JP2002058851A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine capable of reporting the case when a command sent from a game control means to a display control means cannot be received by the display control means and reliably preventing an erroneous report to stabilize a game operation. SOLUTION: In an initializing process executed immediately after a power supply is turned on, a display CPU first initializes a register and a RAM(random access memory) and waits for the reception of a special pattern power stoppage recovery display command from a main substrate while calling a command analyzing process. The display CPU starts to drive a drum motor for an initial display when the special pattern power stoppage recovery display command is received and also when a special pattern power-on display command is received. No error is reported when the special pattern power-on display command is received, however an error is reported when the special pattern power stoppage display command is received.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko game machine, a coin game machine, and a slot machine in which a game is played according to a player's operation, and more particularly to a variable display device whose display state can be changed. The present invention relates to a gaming machine that can provide a predetermined game value when a display result on a variable display device has a predetermined specific display mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a gaming machine, a game medium such as a game ball is launched into a game area by a launching device, and when a game medium wins a winning area such as a winning opening provided in the game area, a predetermined number of prize balls are obtained. Are paid out to players.
Furthermore, a variable display unit capable of changing the display state is provided,
There is a configuration in which a predetermined game value is provided to a player when a display result of the variable display unit has a predetermined specific display mode.

[0003] The game value means that the state of the variable winning ball device provided in the game area of the gaming machine is in a state that is advantageous for a player who is likely to win a hit ball, or is in a state that is advantageous for the player. Rights, or a condition in which conditions for paying out prize game media are easily established. Further, when a predetermined amount of game balls or coins are awarded or points are added in accordance with establishment of predetermined conditions such as winning, these are referred to as value or valuable value.

In a pachinko gaming machine, it is generally known that the display result of a variable display unit for displaying a special symbol (identification information) is a combination of predetermined specific display modes.
It is called "big hit." When a big hit occurs, for example, the big winning opening is opened a predetermined number of times, and the state shifts to a big hit game state in which a hit ball is easy to win. Then, in each open period, when a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winning prizes is won, the winning prize opening is closed. The number of opening of the special winning opening is fixed to a predetermined number (for example, 16 rounds). In addition, an opening time (for example, 29.5 seconds) is determined for each opening,
Even if the number of winnings does not reach the predetermined number, if the opening time elapses, the winning port is closed. If the predetermined condition (for example, winning in the V zone provided in the special winning opening) is not satisfied at the time when the special winning opening is closed, the big hit gaming state ends.

[0005] In addition, among the combinations of the display modes of "outside" other than the combination of "big hit", at a stage where some of the display results of the plurality of variable display portions have not been derived and displayed yet, the display results are already displayed. The state in which the display mode of the variable display unit that is derived and displayed satisfies the display condition that is a combination of the specific display modes is referred to as “reach”. A player plays a game while enjoying how to generate a big hit.

The progress of the game in the gaming machine is controlled by game control means such as a microcomputer. Since the mode of variable display of identification information displayed on the variable display device is various, the capacity of the program related to variable display control is large. Therefore, it is difficult for the microcomputer of the game control means having a limited program capacity to control the identification information and the like displayed on the variable display device, and the microcomputer for the display control is different from the microcomputer of the game control means. It is advisable to use (display control means).

When a display control microcomputer is provided, the game control means controls the display control microcomputer appropriately in accordance with the progress of the game in order to synchronize the game control state with the variable display control state. You need to send a signal. In that case, the identification information displayed on the variable display section,
In particular, a control signal for designating stop identification information at the end of variable display is sent to the display control microcomputer.

[0008]

If the game control state of the game control means deviates from the variable display control state of the display control means, the smooth progress of the game is hindered, so that a control shift is caused. If there is a possibility, it is preferable that the gaming machine is configured to be able to notify that effect. On the other hand, it is confusing to report that there is a possibility that a control deviation may occur even though no control deviation occurs.

Therefore, the present invention is capable of notifying a command sent from the game control means to the display control means when the command cannot be received by the display control means, and providing an erroneous notification. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine capable of stabilizing a gaming operation by surely preventing a game operation from being performed.

[0010]

A gaming machine according to the present invention comprises:
Including a variable display device capable of variably displaying identification information, starting variable display of identification information in response to satisfaction of a condition for starting variable display, and confirming that a display result of identification information has a predetermined specific display mode. A game machine controllable to a specific game state advantageous to a player as a condition, wherein game control means for controlling the progress of the game and display control of a variable display device based on a command sent from the game control means. A display control means, and an error output means for outputting an error signal when an abnormality is detected by the display control means, wherein the game control means is capable of specifying a variable display mode of identification information and a variable display command and identification information. It is possible to send an identification information designating command capable of specifying the display result of the display control means to the display control means, and the error output means performs a table display in an initial operation performed when power supply is started. Even if the control means does not receive the variable display command, it does not output an error signal if the predetermined condition is satisfied, and outputs an error signal if the display control means does not receive the variable display command after the initial operation. Is performed.

The error signal may be output to the outside of the gaming machine.

The error output means is, for example, a port IC having a plurality of output ports.

[0013] The game control means may be provided with a memory holding means capable of holding the storage contents which fluctuate in accordance with the progress of the game even when the power supply to the gaming machine is stopped.

For example, when the power supply to the gaming machine is started and the memory holding means in the game control means does not hold the memory contents before the power supply was stopped, a predetermined condition is satisfied and the error output means Does not output an error signal.

[0015] For example, when the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the memory holding means in the game control means holds the memory contents before the power supply was stopped, and when the power supply is stopped, the display is variably displayed. When the variable display is performed by the device, a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the error output unit does not output the error signal.

For example, when the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the memory holding means in the game control means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped, and the display is variably displayed when the power supply is stopped. If the variable display has not been performed on the device, the predetermined condition is not satisfied, and the error output means outputs an error signal.

The game control means displays an initial symbol on the variable display device when the memory holding means does not hold the memory contents before the power supply stop when the power supply to the gaming machine is started. May be sent to the display control means.

In this case, when the display control means receives the power-on display command, a predetermined condition is satisfied and the error output means does not output an error signal.

The game control means is a variable display device when the power supply to the gaming machine is started and the memory holding means holds the memory contents before the power supply was stopped, and when the power supply was stopped. If the variable display was performed in
The variable display device may be configured to transmit a restoration command indicating restoration to the display state before the power supply is stopped and an identification information designation command to the display control means.

In this case, when the display control means receives the restoration command, a predetermined condition is satisfied and the error output means does not output an error signal.

The game control means may be a variable display device when the power supply to the gaming machine is started and the memory holding means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped and the power supply is stopped. In the case where the variable display is not performed in step (1), the identification information specifying command and the confirmation command indicating the end of the variable display may be sent to the display control means.

In this case, if the display control means has not received another command before the display control means has received the identification information designation command, the predetermined condition is not satisfied and the error output means outputs an error signal. .

When the display control means receives the restoration command after the power supply is started, the display control means causes the variable display device to perform variable display until the identification information is displayed, and then until the confirmation command is received. The control for temporarily stopping the identification information may be performed.

[0024] The display control means may be configured so that the notifying means notifies that the restoration operation is being performed in response to the variable display of the identification information performed in response to the reception of the restoration command.

[0025] Even if the game control means has a command storage area in the form of a ring buffer capable of storing a plurality of commands, it is configured to read out commands from the command storage area and send them to the display control means. Good.

The display control means has a received command storage area in a ring buffer format capable of storing the received command, stores the received command in the received command storage area, and reads out the received command from the received command storage area. It may be configured to perform display control based on such a command.

[0027]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as an example of the gaming machine will be described. FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the front, FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming board 10 of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the front, FIG.
Is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the rear.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 has an outer frame (not shown) formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, a front frame 2 supported on the left side of the outer frame to be openable and closable, and provided on the front frame 2 so as to be openable and closable. The glass plate holding frame 3 is provided. On the front frame 2, a game board 10, an upper plate 12, a lower plate 16 including an ashtray 18,
An operation handle (operation knob) 19, a mechanism plate 70, and a hit ball launching device 87 are also provided.

The glass plate holding frame 3 is provided with a circular see-through window 4 for allowing the game area 25 of the game board 10 to be seen through, and a glass plate (not shown) is mounted from the back of the circular see-through window 4. . At the upper part of the glass plate holding frame 3, along the outer periphery of the circular see-through window 4, there are provided a decorative LED 6 and decorative lamps 5 a, 5 b arranged on both left and right sides thereof. The decorative LED 6 and the decorative lamps 5a and 5b
It is lit or flashed according to the game state to excite the atmosphere of the game. In particular, the occurrence or continuation of the specific game state is notified to the player. Further, an upper portion of the support side of the glass plate holding frame 3 has an out-of-ball lamp 7 for notifying that there are not enough game balls to be paid out and a prize for notifying that there are game balls to be paid out based on the occurrence of winning. A ball lamp 8 is provided, and speakers 9a and 9b that generate sound effects according to the progress of the game are provided on the left and right upper portions of the glass plate holding frame 3.

An openable / closable upper plate 11 is provided below the glass plate holding frame 3, and an upper plate 12 formed by fixing a plurality of plate members is formed on the surface of the upper plate open / close plate 11. Is provided. A ball-pulling operation lever 13 that can move in the left-right direction is provided at an upper portion on the open side of the upper plate opening / closing plate 11. When the ball removing operation lever 13 is moved in one direction, the game balls stored in the upper plate 12 are moved to a ball removing path (not shown) formed on the back surface of the upper plate opening and closing plate 11.
Flows down and is guided to the lower plate 16.

The upper plate 12 has a built-in piezoelectric buzzer 14. The piezoelectric buzzer 14 emits a notification sound to notify the user when a game ball lending error occurs or when a game ball is lent out. Furthermore, in the upper plate 12,
Although not shown, an operation unit (a ball lending switch, a return switch, a balance display, and the like) for operating the card unit 20 provided adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided.

The lower plate 16 attached to the lower portion of the front frame 2 stores excess game balls that cannot be stored in the upper plate 12, and the operation lever 1 is provided on the front wall of the lower plate 16.
7 is slidably mounted. Operation lever 1
When the player operates the game ball 7, the game balls stored in the lower plate 16 flow down, and a player or the like can transfer the dropped game balls to a portable ball box. An ashtray 18 is provided on the left side of the lower plate 16, and an operation handle 1 is provided on the right side.
9 are provided. The operation handle 19 has a built-in switch for starting driving of a driving motor 88 of a hit ball launching device 87 described later, and adjusts a resilient force.

The card unit 20 provided adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 1 is controlled by a unique control circuit, but includes a ball lending switch, a return switch, a balance display provided on the upper plate 12, Connected to the payout control board built in the payout control board box. Note that the card unit 20 may be built in the pachinko gaming machine 1.

Next, the front structure of the game board 10 will be described with reference to FIG. An arc-shaped guide rail 24 is attached to the surface of the game board 10. The inside of the guide rail 24 is a game area 25. In the gaming area 25, a variable display device 26 and a variable winning ball device 51 are provided,
A prize hole that simply wins a hit ball, a windmill that changes the flow direction and speed of the hit ball, and a number of obstacle nails are provided. At the bottom of the game area 25, there is provided an out port 64 into which a hit ball which does not win any of the winning areas is taken.

The variable display device 26 includes a mounting board 27 mounted on the front of the game board 10 and a variable display drive section 100 including a plurality of rotating drums 122A to 122C mounted on the back of the game board 10. . The configuration and operation of the variable display device driving unit 100 are described in FIGS.
Details will be described later with reference to FIG.

When the hit ball falling in the game area 25 wins the start winning port 48 arranged below the variable display device 26 and the start port switch 50 is turned on, the rotating drum 12
2A to 122C start rotating, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, stop in the order of left, middle, and right. When the combination of symbols (special symbols) drawn on the outer circumference of the rotating drums 122A to 122C displayed at the time of stop matches a predetermined big hit symbol, a big hit game state is set. In the big hit game state, the open cycle in which the opening / closing plate 53 of the variable winning ball device 51 is opened a predetermined number of times until a predetermined time (for example, 25 to 29 seconds) elapses or until a predetermined number (for example, 15) of prizes is won. (Eg, 16 times) is repeated.

Display windows 28a to 28c are formed on the mounting substrate 27 of the variable display device 26 so that the rotating drums 122A to 122C can be seen through. Display windows 28a to 28
An upper obstacle protrusion 31 is provided on the upper part of c. Further, the decoration lamp 33 is built in the upper obstacle projection 31. Further, decorative LEDs 34, 35, 36, and 37 are also incorporated. The rotating drum 12 is provided below the mounting board 27.
A start storage indicator 29 is provided to notify that the right to rotate 2A to 122C has been reserved. Further, on the left and right sides of the start storage indicator 29, lower guiding protrusions 38 are provided.
The lower guiding projection 38 receives the game ball flowing from the left and right sides of the variable display device 26 and drops the ball toward the starting winning opening 48. A decorative lamp 39 is also built in the lower guiding protrusion 38.

The variable display device 26 is installed substantially at the center of the game area 25, and has a variable winning ball device (special electric accessory) 51.
Is installed at the lower part of the game area 25 and above the out port 64. Above the left and right of the variable display device 26,
A windmill 40 having a built-in lamp 41 is installed.
6 are installed. On the variable display device 26, a normal symbol display 44 is provided. The passage opening 42 has a gate switch 43 for detecting passage of a hit ball and a passage storage display 45 incorporated therein. The normal winning opening 46 is provided with a decorative LED 47 that simply exerts a decorative effect. The normal winning opening 46 is provided with a winning detection switch 4.
6a is built in.

When the hit ball is detected by the gate switch 43, the display result of the normal symbol display 44 is derived after a predetermined time, and when the display result matches the predetermined hit symbol, the solenoid 49 of the starting winning opening 48 is activated. Is turned on, and it becomes easy to win the start winning port 48. The passage memory display 45 informs that the right to derive the display result of the ordinary symbol display 44 is reserved.

In this embodiment, the normal symbol display 44
There are two normal symbol display areas (left and right in the example shown in FIG. 2), and they are alternately turned on during normal symbol fluctuation. Then, when the one corresponding to the hit is lit at the end of the change, the solenoid 49 of the starting winning port 48, which is an ordinary electric accessory, is turned on, so that the starting winning port 48 can be easily won.

The game area 2 at the tip of the guide rail 24
A backflow prevention device 63 is provided at the entrance portion to 5 so that the hit ball reaching the game area 25 does not flow back into the guide rail 24.

The variable winning ball device 51 has an arc-shaped decorative plate 6 corresponding to the lower half of the circular game area 25.
2 A rectangular winning area 52 is formed substantially at the center of the decorative plate 62. And winning area (large winning opening)
52 is opened and closed by an opening and closing plate 53. Opening / closing plate 53
Is opened and closed by a solenoid 54. Winning area 52
Is divided into two, and when a hit ball wins in one area, the hit ball is detected by the V winning switch 55. When the detection by the V winning switch 55 (detection of winning in the V zone) is performed, the start of the next opening cycle in the big hit gaming state is guaranteed. When a hit ball wins in the other area, the hit ball is detected by the count switch 56. The game balls that have won the V zone are transferred to the area where the count switch 56 is provided.

A protruding obstacle member is provided below the opening / closing plate 53. On the front surface of the protruding obstacle member, a frequency indicator 5 for displaying the number of open cycles in the big hit game state.
7 and a winning number display 58 for displaying the number of winning balls in the opening / closing plate 53 in one open cycle. The decorative plate 62 includes a plurality of decorative LEDs 59 and 6.
0, and an attacker lamp 61 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, a drum storage box 101 of a variable display device driving unit 100, which is a rear structure of the variable display device 26, is fixed to the back surface of the game board 10. Further, a winning ball set cover (not shown) is attached so as to surround the periphery of the drum storage box 101. The prize ball collecting cover body is formed with a guide path and a prize ball collecting gutter for guiding a prize ball winning various prize ports and a prize ball device according to a predetermined flow path.

On the back of the winning ball set cover, there is a game board 1
A switch connected to a winning opening, a winning ball device, or the like, which is arranged at No. 0, and a first wiring to which wiring of electric components of a light emitting source for decoration are connected.
The relay board 72 and the second relay board 73 are attached. The first relay board 72 and the second relay board 73 are provided for relaying various electronic components provided on the game board 10 and a game control board (main board) housed in the game control circuit board box 82. Have been. The drum storage box 101, the first relay board 72, and the second relay board 73 are provided so as to protrude from a window opening 71 provided substantially at the center of the mechanism plate 70 or to be visible from the outside.

Next, the structure of the mechanism plate 70 will be described with reference to FIG. The mechanism plate 70 is provided so as to cover the back surface of the game board 10, but a ball storage tank 74 for storing a large amount of game balls provided as game balls is mounted on the top of the rear surface of the mechanism plate 70. Have been. Ball storage tank 74
Below, a guide rail 75 is provided in an inclined manner, which causes the game balls flowing out of the ball storage tank 74 to flow down while being aligned in a plurality of rows (for example, two rows). At the end of the guide rail 75, the guide rail 7 is disposed beside the window opening 71.
A ball payout device 76 that receives the aligned game balls from No. 5 and pays out a predetermined number of game balls based on a winning ball signal is connected. Note that a ball out detection switch 77 (not shown in FIG. 3) is provided on the upstream side of the ball payout device 76. When the ball out detection switch 77 is turned on, the ball out lamp 7 is turned on.

The game balls paid out from the ball payout device 76 are guided to the upper plate 12 or the lower plate 16 via the payout passage. The ball payout device 76 is controlled by a payout control CPU mounted on a payout control board 98. The payout control CPU controls the ball payout device 76 in accordance with a payout control command indicating the number of winning balls from the CPU on the main board. Further, a full tank switch 78 is provided on one side of the payout passage on the upstream side of the lower plate 16. When the full tank switch 78 is turned on, the driving of the drive motor of the hit ball firing device and the payout of game balls from the ball payout device 76 are stopped.

A terminal box 80 is provided on the upper rear surface of the mechanism plate 70. The terminal box 80 houses a board provided with a power supply line for supplying power to the pachinko gaming machine 1 and an information input / output terminal 81 for exchanging information signals with a management computer of the game arcade. Further, a game control board box 82 is detachably mounted below the window opening 71. Below the game control board box 82, a payout control board box 83
Is attached.

As shown in FIG. 3, a ball launching device 87 is attached to one side of the lower portion of the rear surface of the front frame 2. The hitting ball firing device 87 includes a hitting rod 89 for firing a hitting ball and a drive motor 88 for reciprocating the hitting rod 89. On the side opposite to the installation position of the hit ball launching device 87, an illumination component (decoration lamp 5) provided on the glass plate holding frame 3
a, 6b and decorative LED 6) and a lamp control board 85 for controlling the operation of the illuminated components provided on the game board.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the power supply board 910. The power supply board 910 is an electric component control board such as a main board, a display control board, an audio control board, a lamp control board, and a payout control board (a board on which an electric component control means for controlling an electric component provided in a game machine is mounted). ), And generates voltages used by each electric component control board and mechanical components in the gaming machine. In this example, A
C24V, VSL (DC + 30V), DC + 21V, DC
Generate + 12V and + 5V DC. Further, the capacitor 916 serving as a backup power supply is charged from DC + 5V, that is, a power supply line for driving an IC or the like on each substrate.

The transformer 911 converts an AC voltage from an AC power supply to 24V. AC 24V voltage is applied to connector 9
15 is output. Further, the rectifier circuit 912 includes an AC24
A DC voltage of +30 V is generated from V and output to the DC-DC converter 913 and the connector 915. DC-D
The C converter 913 has + 21V, + 12V and + 5V.
V is generated and output to the connector 915. Connector 91
5 is connected to, for example, a relay board, from which electric power of a voltage required for each electric component control board and mechanism components is supplied.

However, the power supply board 910 may be provided with each connector leading to each electric component control board, and the power supply board 910 may supply each voltage reaching each board without going through the relay board. FIG. 4 shows one connector 9.
Although 15 is shown as a representative, a connector is provided for each electric component control board.

+5 V from DC-DC converter 913
The line branches to form a backup + 5V line. A large-capacity capacitor 916 is connected between the backup + 5V line and the ground level. The capacitor 916 is provided with an electric power so as to be able to hold a storage state in a backup RAM (power-backed-up RAM, that is, storage means that can be in a storage state) when the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off. Backup power supply. Also,
A diode 917 for preventing backflow is inserted between the + 5V line and the backup + 5V line.

Note that a battery that can be charged from a + 5V power supply may be used as a backup power supply. In the case of using a battery, a rechargeable battery is used which runs out of capacity when power is not supplied from a + 5V power supply for a predetermined time.

The power supply board 910 has a power monitoring I
C902 is mounted. The power supply monitoring IC 902
The occurrence of power interruption is detected by introducing the VSL power supply voltage and monitoring the VSL power supply voltage. Specifically, when the VSL power supply voltage falls below a predetermined value (+22 V in this example),
It outputs a voltage drop signal (power-off signal) assuming that power-off occurs. The power supply voltage to be monitored is preferably higher than the power supply voltage (+5 V in this example) of the circuit element mounted on each electric component control board. In this example, VSL, which is the voltage immediately after conversion from AC to DC,
Is used. The voltage drop signal from the power supply monitoring IC 902 is supplied to the main board 331, the payout control board 98, and the like.

The predetermined value for the power supply monitoring IC 902 to detect a power-off is lower than the normal voltage, but is a voltage at which the CPU on each electric component control board can operate for a while. Further, the power supply monitoring IC 902 is configured to monitor a voltage higher than a voltage for driving a circuit element such as a CPU (+5 V in this example) and a voltage immediately after conversion from AC to DC. Therefore, the monitoring range can be extended for the voltage required by the CPU. Therefore,
More precise monitoring can be performed. Furthermore, when VSL (+30 V) is used as the monitoring voltage, since the voltage supplied to the various switches of the gaming machine is +12 V, prevention of erroneous switch-on detection upon momentary power interruption can be expected. That is, when monitoring the voltage of the + 30V power supply,
The drop can be detected at a stage before + 12V generated after the generation of 0V starts to fall.

Therefore, when the voltage of the +12 V power supply decreases, the switch output comes to an on state,
If the power supply interruption is recognized by monitoring the +30 V power supply voltage that falls earlier than V, the power supply wait state can be entered before the switch output turns on, and the switch output can not be detected.

Further, since the power supply monitoring IC 902 is mounted on the power supply board 910 separate from the electric component control board, the power supply monitoring circuit can supply a power off signal to the plurality of electric component control boards. No matter how many electrical component control boards need a power-off signal, it is sufficient that only one power supply monitoring means is provided. Therefore, even if each electrical component control means in each electrical component control board performs return control described later, However, the cost of gaming machines does not increase much.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the detection output (power cut-off signal) of the power supply monitoring IC 902 is supplied to the respective electric component control boards (for example, the main board and the payout control board) via the buffer circuits 918 and 919. ), For example, a configuration in which one detection output is transmitted to the relay board and the same signal is distributed from the relay board to each electric component control board. Further, a buffer circuit may be provided according to the number of substrates that require a power-off signal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a game control circuit formed on a game control board (main board) 331 housed in the game control board box 82. FIG.
Also shows a payout control board 98, a lamp control board 85, a voice control board 97 and a display control board 165. The main board 331 is electrically connected to the terminal box 80, the payout control board 98 housed in the payout control board box 83, the audio control board 97, and the lamp control board 85. The main board 331 is also connected to the display control board 165.

The operation of the game control means and the rotary drum control circuit will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The main board 331 has a basic circuit 353 for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 in accordance with a program, a gate switch 43, a winning opening switch 46a, and a starting opening switch 5.
A switch circuit 358 for giving signals from the 0, V winning switch 55, the count switch 56, the full tank switch 78, and the out-of-ball detection switch 77 to the basic circuit 53; a solenoid 49 for opening the starting winning port 48; And a solenoid circuit 359 that drives the solenoid 21 that opens and closes according to a command from the basic circuit 353.

Although not shown in FIG. 5, a drive signal for a switching solenoid for switching the path in the special winning opening is also output from the basic circuit 353, and a count switch short-circuit signal is also output from the basic circuit via the switch circuit 358. 3
53.

Further, according to the data provided from the basic circuit 353, jackpot information indicating occurrence of a jackpot, effective start information indicating the number of start winning balls used for starting variable display of the variable display device 26, and probability fluctuation have occurred. An information output circuit 364 that outputs probability change information or the like indicating the fact to the terminal box 80 is mounted.

The basic circuit 353 includes a ROM 354 for storing a game control program and the like, a RAM 355 used as a work memory, a CPU 356 for performing a control operation according to a control program, and an I / O port unit 357.
including. The RAM 355, the ROM 354, and the I / O
The O port unit 357 may be externally mounted or may be built in the CPU 356. A part or all of the RAM 354 is backed up by a backup power supply from the power supply board 910. That is, the main board 331 has a backup RAM.

Further, the main board 331 has one of a system reset circuit 65 for resetting the basic circuit 353 when the power is turned on, and an I / O port section 357 by decoding an address signal given from the basic circuit 353. And an address decode circuit 367 for outputting a signal for selecting the I / O port.

In this embodiment, the lamp control means mounted on the lamp control board 85 is provided with a start memory display 29 and a passage memory display 4 provided on a game board.
5. Rotation display 57, winning number display 58 and decoration L
The display control of the ED is performed, and the display control of the decorative lamps / LEDs 5a, 5b, 6, the award ball lamp 8 and the ball out lamp 7 provided on the frame side is performed. In this embodiment, the symbol display 44 is normally controlled by the display control means mounted on the display control board, but may be controlled by the lamp control means.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a circuit configuration in the display control board 165 by using drum motors 200A to 200C for rotating the rotating drums 122A to 122C, and rotating drums 122A to 122C.
Drum lamps 151A- installed inside 22C
FIG. 151C is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the main substrate 151C together with a part thereof. The drum lamps 151A to 151C
Is, in fact, multiple lunalites (hot cathode tubes)
including.

The display control CPU 401 controls the control data R
When the strobe signal (INT signal) is input from the output ports 571 and 572 of the main board 331 and the output buffer circuit 573 via the noise filter 407 and the input buffer circuit 405, the input is performed. The display control command is received via the buffer circuit 405. Input buffer circuit 405
For example, a 74HC244, which is a general-purpose IC, can be used.

The display control CPU 401 then controls the drum motor 200A according to the received display control command.
Drive control and drum lamps 151A-1
A signal for controlling the lighting of 51C is output to output port 51.
1 to the motor drive circuit 176 and the write drive circuit 178. The motor drive circuit 176 and the light drive circuit 178 drive the drum motors 200A to 200C and the drum lamps 151A to 151C according to a signal from the display control CPU 401.

The input buffer circuit 405 is connected to the main board 331
Can be passed only in a direction from the display control board 165 to the display control board 165. Therefore, there is no room for a signal to be transmitted from the display control board 165 to the main board 331. Even if the circuit in the display control board 165 is tampered with, the signal output by the tampering is not transmitted to the main board 331 side. The outputs of the output ports 571 and 572 may be output to the display control board 165 as they are. However, by providing an output buffer circuit 573 capable of transmitting a signal only in one direction, the output from the main board 331 to the display control board 165 is provided. One-way signal transmission can be further ensured.

In this embodiment, the display control board 165
And a test signal output circuit 220 as error output means. The test signal output circuit 220 has an I / O port for outputting a test signal. The display control board 165 has connectors 221 to 226 for outputting test signals to the outside. Note that the connectors 221 to 226 may be attachable only during a test. By doing so, the cost can be reduced at the mass production stage. A part of the test signal is also output from the main board 331.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the variable display device driving unit 100 of the variable display device 26. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the variable display device driving unit 100. In addition, FIG.
FIG. 8 shows one of the rotary drum units 120A to 120C as a representative. In FIG. 8, the rotary drum units 120A to 120C and the printed wiring board 121A are shown.
To 121C and the rotating drums 122A to 122C are shown as a rotating drum unit 120, a printed wiring board 121, and a rotating drum 122.

As shown in FIG. 7, the variable display device driving section 100 of the variable display device 26
A to 120C and a drum storage case 1 for storing them
01. The drum storage case 101 is formed in a box shape with an open front. After the rotary drum units 120A to 120C are inserted from the openings, they are supported. That is, the upper and lower portions of the drum storage case 101 are provided with the respective rotating drum units 120A to 120A.
An engagement groove 105 corresponding to 20C is formed. On the other hand, the engagement protrusion 123 is formed on the printed wiring board 121A to 121C in each of the rotary drum units 120A to 120C, and the engagement protrusion 123 engages with the engagement groove 105 provided in the drum storage case 101.

A mounting piece 103 and an engagement piece 104 are provided above and below the opening of the drum storage case 101. The attachment piece 103 and the engagement piece 104 are formed by bending the tip of a metal attachment band 102 applied from the upper part of the drum storage case 101 to the rear and the bottom. The whole of the variable display device driving unit 100 is mounted on the game board 10 by mounting the mounting pieces 103 and the engagement pieces 104 on a frame-shaped mounting plate (not shown) fixed to the back surface of the game board 10. It is attached.

A connection opening 112 corresponding to each of the rotary drum units 120A to 120C is provided on the bottom surface of the drum storage case 101. The connection protrusions 127 on the printed wiring mounting boards 121A to 121C are provided through the connection opening 112. And the connector 167 provided on the display control board 165 are connected. Further, the drum storage case 10
1, the rotating drum units 120A to 120C
A locking opening (not shown) through which the mounting portion 125 faces when is mounted.

The mounting portion 12 facing the locking opening
8, the screw 111 is screwed into the hole 109 formed in the drum storage case 101, so that the rotary drum units 120A to 120C are fixed to the drum storage case 101. At this time, the heat sink 1
10 is also screwed together with the mounting portion 125. The heat radiating plate 110 is made of metal, and the heat accumulated in the printed wiring mounting substrates 121A to 121C is released to the outside via the heat radiating plate 110 by coming into contact with the metal printed wiring mounting substrates 121A to 121C.

On the lower back surface of the drum storage case 101,
Mounting boss 10 for screwing display control board 165
6 are provided. Then, with the display control board 165 attached to the mounting boss 106, the display control board 1
A display control board box 160 for protecting the box 65 is attached to the drum storage case 101. For mounting, an engaging hole 10 is provided at the front of the bottom of the drum storage case 101.
8, and a mounting hole 107 is formed at the lower end of the rear surface.

The rotary drums 122A to 122C in the rotary drum units 120A to 120C are formed in a drum shape including a cylindrical symbol display surface having a plurality of symbols. The reel support of the reel frame formed in a hexagonal diagonal shape from the symbol display surface toward the center is the rotor 14.
It is fixed to the 0 D-shaped cut projection 143 with screws. From the upper side to the rear side of the printed wiring mounting boards 121A to 121C to which the drum motors (stepping motors) for rotatingly driving the rotating drums 122A to 122C are mounted, reinforcing projections are provided to increase the rigidity of the printed wiring mounting boards 121A to 121C themselves. 124 are formed.

An attachment portion 125 having an attachment hole 126 is formed at a lower portion of the rear end, and a connection projection 1 having a conductive terminal portion formed by printed wiring is formed at a rear portion of the bottom.
27 are provided. Further, mounting holes 128 for mounting a lamp cover 153 for accommodating and supporting the drum lamp 151 are provided on the printed wiring mounting boards 121A to 121A.
It is provided in the front part of C. Printed wiring mounting board 1
A shaft mounting hole for fixing a bearing 137 that rotatably supports the shaft of the rotor 140 is provided at a substantially central portion of the shafts 21A to 121C.

Printed circuit board 121A-121C
A cylindrical coil case 135 containing a driving coil of a stepping motor is attached to a substantially central portion of the coil case 135.
The coil case 135 is a printed circuit board 121A-
The end of the drive coil is soldered to the conductive part of the printed wiring. A spring washer 141 and a flat washer 142 are sandwiched between the rotor 140 and the bearing 137. Further, a portion that penetrates through the bearing 137 and protrudes to the rear side of the printed wiring mounting boards 121A to 121C is provided with the E-ring 1 through the washer 146.
Fixed at 47.

The rotating drums 122A to 122C are
A motor cover 148 is attached from the front while the shaft of the rotor 140 is supported by the bearing 137.
The rotary drums 122A to 122C are fitted to the D-shaped cut protrusions 143 protruding forward from 8 and screwed, so that the rotary drums 122A to 122C are mounted on the printed circuit board 121A to 121C.

The drum lamp 151 has a lamp cover 153.
The lamp cover 153 has a lamp receiving base 156 that receives each drum lamp 151. With the lamp receiving base 156 supporting the drum lamp 151, the mounting holes 154 formed above and below the drum receiving base 156 are fixed to the mounting holes 128 with screws 155, so that the lamp cover 153 is mounted on the printed wiring mounting substrates 121A to 121A.
Fixed to 1C. In addition, the drum lamp 151 irradiates light from behind to a design that can be visually recognized by a player in order to enhance the decoration effect. In FIG. 7, the drum lamp 1
Although three lights are shown as 51, more lights may be used to enhance the gaming effect.
For example, FIG. 8 illustrates five lights.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sub-board box 160 is formed in a box shape with an open top. A large number of heat dissipation holes 161 are provided over the entire circumference of the side wall. An engagement claw 162 that engages with the engagement hole 108 of the drum storage box 101 is provided in front of the display control board 165. A mounting hole 163 corresponding to the mounting hole 107 of the drum storage box 101 is provided behind the display control board 165. After the engagement claws 162 are inserted into the engagement holes 108, the sub-board box 160 is set in the drum storage box 10 with screws 164 in a state where the positions of the attachment holes 163 match the positions of the attachment holes 107.
1 is attached.

The display control board 165 stored in the sub-board box 160 is provided with mounting holes 166 corresponding to the mounting bosses 106 of the drum storage box 101.
As shown in FIG. 9, on the upper surface side, a plurality of connectors 167 connected to the connection protrusions 127 of the rotary drum units 120A to 120C are mounted. On the lower surface side, the main board 3 housed in the game control board box 82
The connector 173, the CPU 401, the transistor 171 and the like connected to the X.31 are mounted. Note that FIG.
Although one transistor 171 is illustrated, a large number of transistors and ICs are actually mounted.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the CPU 3 on the main board 331.
It is a block diagram which shows an example of 1 structure around 56. As shown in FIG. 10, a power-off signal (voltage drop signal) from a power supply monitoring circuit (power supply monitoring means) of the power supply board 910 is transmitted to the CPU 3.
It is connected to 56 non-maskable interrupt terminals (XNMI terminals). The power supply monitoring circuit is a circuit that monitors a voltage of any one of various DC power supplies used by the gaming machine and detects a power supply voltage drop. In this embodiment, the power supply voltage of VSL is monitored, and when the voltage value becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined value, a low-level power-off signal is generated. VSL is the largest DC voltage used in gaming machines, and in this example is +
30V. Therefore, the CPU 356 can confirm the occurrence of power interruption by the interrupt processing.

FIG. 10 also shows a system reset circuit 65. When the power is turned on, the reset IC 651
The output is set to the low level for a predetermined time determined by the capacity of the external capacitor, and the output is set to the high level after the predetermined time has elapsed. That is, the reset signal is raised to a high level to make the CPU 356 operable. The reset IC 651 monitors the power supply voltage VSL, which is the same power supply voltage as the power supply voltage monitored by the power supply monitoring circuit, and determines that the voltage value is a predetermined value (lower than the power supply voltage value at which the power supply monitoring circuit outputs a power-off signal). Value), the output goes low. Therefore, the CPU 356 performs predetermined power supply stop processing in response to the power cutoff signal from the power supply monitoring circuit,
The system is reset.

As shown in FIG. 10, the reset IC 651
Is input to the NAND circuit 947 and also to the clear terminal of the counter IC 941 via the inverting circuit (NOT circuit) 944. When the input to the clear terminal goes low, the counter IC 941 counts the clock signal from the oscillator 943.
The Q5 output of the counter IC 941 is output to the NOT circuit 9
45, 946 and input to the NAND circuit 947. The Q6 output of the counter IC 941 is input to a clock terminal of a flip-flop (FF) 942.
The D input of the flip-flop 942 is fixed at a high level, and the Q output is input to an OR circuit (OR circuit) 949. The other input of the OR circuit 949 is connected to the NAND circuit 9.
The output of 47 is introduced via NOT circuit 948. The output of the OR circuit 949 is connected to the reset terminal of the CPU 356. According to such a configuration, two reset signals (low-level signals) are supplied to the reset terminal of the CPU 356 when the power is turned on.
56 starts operation reliably.

Then, for example, the detection voltage of the power supply monitoring circuit (the voltage at which the power supply disconnection signal is output) is set to +22 V, and the detection voltage for setting the reset signal to low level is set to +9 V. In such a configuration, the power supply monitoring circuit and the system reset circuit 65 are connected to the same power supply VSL.
, The difference between the timing at which the voltage monitoring circuit outputs the power-off signal and the timing at which the system reset circuit 65 outputs the system reset signal can be reliably set to a desired predetermined period. The desired predetermined period is a period from the start of the power supply stop processing in response to the power supply cutoff signal from the power supply monitoring circuit until the power supply stop processing is completely completed.

While power is not supplied from the + 5V power supply which is the driving power supply of the CPU 356 and the like, at least a part of the RAM is backed up by the backup power supply supplied from the power supply board, and the contents are maintained even when the power supply to the gaming machine is cut off Is saved. And when the + 5V power is restored,
Since a reset signal is issued from system reset circuit 65, CPU 356 returns to a normal operation state.
At that time, since the necessary data is stored in the backup RAM, it is possible to return to the gaming state at the time of the occurrence of the power failure when recovering from a power failure or the like.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 10, two reset signals (low-level signals) are supplied to the reset terminal of the CPU 356 when the power is turned on. However, the reset signal is reliably reset even if the reset signal rises only once. When using the CPU to be released, reference numerals 941 to 9
The circuit element indicated by 49 is unnecessary. In that case, the output of the reset IC 651 is directly connected to the reset terminal of the CPU 356.

CPU 356 used in this embodiment
Incorporates an I / O port (PIO) and a timer / counter circuit (CTC). PIO is PB0-PB
It has a port of 3 4 bits and 1 byte of PA0 to PA7. The ports PB0 to PB3 and PA0 to PA7 can be set for both input and output. However, in this embodiment, no built-in PIO is used. In that case, for example, all ports are set to the input mode, and all ports are connected to the ground level. When power is turned on, P
IO is automatically set to input mode.

Next, the operation of the gaming machine will be described. FIG.
1 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by the CPU 356 on the main board 331. When the power of the gaming machine is turned on and the CPU 356 is activated, the CPU 356 first performs necessary initialization in the main processing.

In the initial setting process, the CPU 356
First, interrupt prohibition is set (step S1). Next, the interrupt mode is set to the interrupt mode 2 (step S2), and a stack pointer designated address is set to the stack pointer (step S3). Then, the internal device registers are initialized (step S4). After initializing a built-in device (built-in peripheral circuit) CTC (counter / timer) and PIO (parallel input / output port) (step S5), the RAM is set to an accessible state (step S6).

CPU 356 used in this embodiment
Incorporates an I / O port (PIO) and a timer / counter circuit (CTC). Also, CTC has two external clock / timer trigger inputs CLK / TRG2, 3
And two timer outputs ZC / TO0,1.

CPU 3 used in this embodiment
56 has the following three types of modes as maskable interrupt (INT) modes. When a maskable interrupt occurs, the CPU 356 automatically sets an interrupt disabled state and saves the contents of the program counter on the stack.

Interrupt mode 0: The built-in device that has issued the interrupt request receives an RST instruction (1 byte) or a CALL instruction (3 bytes).
Byte) on the internal data bus of the CPU. Therefore, the CPU 356 executes the instruction at the address corresponding to the RST instruction or the address specified by the CALL instruction. Upon reset, CPU 356 automatically enters interrupt mode 0. Therefore, when it is desired to set the mode to the interrupt mode 1 or the interrupt mode 2, it is necessary to perform a process for setting the mode to the interrupt mode 1 or the interrupt mode 2 in the initial setting process.

Interrupt mode 1: When an interrupt is accepted,
In this mode, the camera always jumps to the address 0038 (h).

Interrupt mode 2: The address synthesized from the value (1 byte) of the specific register (I register) of CPU 356 and the interrupt vector (1 byte: least significant bit 0) output from the built-in device is the interrupt address. Mode. That is, the interrupt address is an address indicated by 2 bytes in which the upper address is the value of the specific register and the lower address is the interrupt vector. Therefore, an interrupt process can be set at an arbitrary (albeit skipped) even address.
Each built-in device has a function of sending an interrupt vector when making an interrupt request.

Therefore, when the interrupt mode 2 is set, it is possible to easily process an interrupt request from each built-in device, and it is possible to set an interrupt process at an arbitrary position in a program. Will be possible. Further, unlike the interrupt mode 1, it is easy to prepare an interrupt process for each interrupt occurrence factor. As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 356 is set to the interrupt mode 2 in step S2 of the initial setting process.

Then, it is confirmed whether or not the data protection processing of the backup RAM area (for example, the power failure occurrence NMI processing such as the addition of parity data) has been performed when the power is turned off (step S7). In this embodiment, when an unexpected power failure occurs, a process for protecting data in the backup RAM area is performed. The case where such protection processing has been performed is regarded as backup. After confirming that there is no backup, the CPU 356 executes an initialization process.

In this embodiment, the backup RAM
Whether or not there is backup data in the area is confirmed by the state of the backup flag set in the backup RAM area when the power is turned off. In this example, as shown in FIG. 12, if "55H" is set in the backup flag area, it means that there is a backup (on state),
If a value other than “55H” is set, it means that there is no backup (off state).

When the backup is confirmed, the CPU 3
Reference numeral 56 performs a data check (parity check in this example) of the backup RAM area. If the power is restored after an unexpected power failure, the data in the backup RAM area should have been saved, and the check result becomes normal. If the check result is not normal, since the internal state cannot be returned to the state at the time of power-off, the initialization processing executed at the time of power-on without power recovery is executed.

If the check result is normal (step S
8) The CPU 356 performs a game state restoring process for returning the internal state of the game control means and the control state of the electric component control means such as the display control means to the state at the time of power-off (step S).
9). Then, the saved value of the PC (program counter) stored in the backup RAM area is set in the PC, and the program returns to that address.

In the initialization processing, the CPU 356 first
A RAM clear process is performed (step S11). In addition, a predetermined work area (for example, a normal symbol determination random number counter,
An initial value setting process for setting an initial value in a normal symbol determination buffer, a special symbol left middle right symbol buffer, a payout command storage pointer, and the like is also performed. Furthermore, sub-boards (lamp control board 85, payout control board 98, audio control board 9
7. A process for initializing the display control board 165) is executed (step S13). The process of initializing the sub-board is, for example, a process of sending a command for initial setting.

Then, the register of the CTC provided in the CPU 356 is set so that the timer is interrupted periodically every 2 ms (step S14). That is, a value corresponding to 2 ms is set in a predetermined register (time constant register) as an initial value. Since the interrupt is prohibited in step S1 of the initial setting process, the interrupt is permitted before the initialization process is completed (step S15).

In this embodiment, the built-in CTC of CPU 356 is set to repeatedly generate a timer interrupt. In this embodiment, the repetition period is set to 2 ms. Then, when a timer interrupt occurs, as shown in FIG. 13, the CPU 356 sets, for example, a timer interrupt flag indicating that a timer interrupt has occurred (step S12).

Execution of initialization processing (steps S11 to S1)
When 5) is completed, the process proceeds to a loop process in which the main process checks whether or not a timer interrupt has occurred (step S17). In the loop, a display random number update process (step S16) is also executed.

When recognizing in step S17 that a timer interrupt has occurred, the CPU 356 executes the game control processing of steps S21 to S31. In the game control process, the CPU 356 first sets the switch circuit 58
Through the gate sensor 12, the starting port switch 17, the count sensor 23, and the winning port switches 19a, 19
The switch states such as b, 24a, and 24b are input, and their states are determined (switch processing: step S2).
1).

Next, various abnormality diagnosis processes are performed by a self-diagnosis function provided inside the pachinko gaming machine 1, and an alarm is issued if necessary according to the result (error process: step S22).

Next, a process of updating each counter indicating a random number for determination such as a random number for big hit determination used in game control is performed (step S23). The CPU 356 further performs a process of updating a display random number such as a random number that determines the type of the stop symbol (step S24).

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing each random number. Each random number is used as follows. (1) Random 1: Determine whether or not to generate a big hit (for big hit determination = for special symbol determination) (2) Random 2-1 to 2-3: For left and right middle missing symbol determination (3) Random 3: Determine the combination of symbols at the time of the big hit (for the big hit symbol determination = for the special symbol determination) (4) Random 4: Determine the fluctuation pattern at the time of the reach (for the fluctuation pattern determination)

Incidentally, random numbers other than the above-mentioned random numbers (1) to (4) are used in order to enhance the gaming effect. In step S23, the CPU 356 increments (adds 1) a counter for generating the big hit determination random number (1) and the big hit symbol determination random number (3).
That is, these are the random numbers for determination, and the other random numbers are the random numbers for display.

Further, the CPU 356 performs a special symbol process (step S25). In the special symbol process control, a corresponding process is selected and executed according to a special symbol process flag for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 in a predetermined order according to a gaming state. Then, the value of the special symbol process flag is updated during each processing according to the gaming state. Also, a normal symbol process is performed (step S26). In the normal symbol process process, a corresponding process is selected and executed according to a normal symbol process flag for controlling the display state of the normal symbol display 44 in a predetermined order. Then, the value of the normal symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the gaming state.

Next, the CPU 356 sets a display control command relating to the special symbol in a predetermined area of the RAM 55 and sends out a display control command (display control command control processing: step S27).

Further, the CPU 356 includes, for example, jackpot information, start information,
An information output process for outputting data such as probability variation information is performed (step S29).

Further, the CPU 356 issues a drive command to the solenoid circuit 59 when a predetermined condition is satisfied (step S30). The solenoid circuit 359 drives the solenoids 49 and 54 in response to the drive command, and brings the start winning port 48 or the open / close plate 53 into an open state or a closed state.

Then, the CPU 356 executes prize ball processing for setting the number of prize balls based on the detection output of the switches 46a, 50, 56 for detecting a prize in each prize port (step S31). Specifically, a payout control command is output to the payout control board 98 in response to the winning detection. The payout control CPU mounted on the payout control board 98 includes:
The ball payout device 76 is driven according to the payout control command.

According to the above control, in this embodiment, the game control process is started every 2 ms.
In this embodiment, for example, in the timer interrupt processing, only a flag indicating that an interrupt has occurred is set, and the game control processing is executed in the main processing.
The game control process may be executed by a timer interrupt process.

The main process includes a process of determining whether or not to shift to the game control process. The internal timer of the CPU 356 performs a timer interrupt process based on a timer interrupt that is periodically generated. Since a flag for determining whether or not to shift is set or the like, all of the game control processing is reliably executed. In other words, until all of the game control processes have been executed, it is not determined whether or not to shift to the next game control process, so it is guaranteed that all processes in the game control process will be completed. ing.

As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 356 having a built-in CTC or PIO is
Interrupt mode 2 is set in the initial setting process. Accordingly, a periodic timer interrupt process using the built-in CTC can be easily realized. Further, the timer interrupt processing can be set at an arbitrary position on the program. Further, switch detection processing using the built-in PIO can be easily realized by interruption processing. as a result,
It is possible to obtain effects such as simplification of the program configuration and reduction in the number of program development steps.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the left and right middle symbols used in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, there are 20 symbols each as the left and right middle symbols. 00 (H) ~
A symbol number of 13 (H) is assigned. Variable display device 2
Each of the left and right middle rows in 6 can display three symbols (however, only a part of the symbols may be displayed in the upper and lower rows in each row).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of a special symbol processing program executed by the CPU 356. The special symbol processing shown in FIG.
This is a specific process of step S25 in the flowchart of FIG. When performing the special symbol process process, the CPU 356 performs the variation reduction timer subtraction process (step S31).
0) is performed, and step S30 is performed in accordance with the internal state.
Perform any one of the processes from 0 to S309. The fluctuation shortening timer is a timer for setting the fluctuation time when the fluctuation time of the special symbol is shortened.

Special symbol change waiting process (step S30)
0): The starting prize opening 48 is hit and the starting opening switch 5
Wait for 0 to turn on. When the starting port switch 50 is turned on, if the number of stored start winnings is not full, the number of stored start winnings is incremented by one and a random number for determining a jackpot is extracted.

Special symbol determination processing (step S301):
When the state in which the variable display of the special symbol can be started, the number of start winning prize stored is confirmed. If the starting prize memory number is not 0,
It is determined whether to make a big hit or an out according to the value of the extracted big hit determining random number.

Stop symbol setting processing (step S302):
The stop symbol of the left and right middle symbols is determined.

Reach operation setting processing (step S30)
3): It is determined whether or not the reach operation is performed based on the combination of the left and right stop symbols, and if the reach is determined, the fluctuation period at the time of the reach is determined according to the value of the fluctuation pattern determination random number. decide.

All symbols change start processing (step S30)
4): The variable display device 26 is controlled so that all symbols start to change. At this time, the right and left middle final stop symbols and information instructing the variation mode are transmitted to the display control board 165. Upon completion of the processing, the internal state (process flag) is updated so as to shift to step S305.

All symbols stop waiting processing (step S30)
5): When a predetermined time (time indicated by the fluctuation reduction timer in step S310) has elapsed, all the symbols displayed on the variable display device 26 are stopped. If the stop symbol is a combination of big hit symbols, the internal state (process flag) is updated so as to shift to step S306. Otherwise, the internal state is changed to step S3.
Update to move to 00.

Opening process of opening the special winning opening (step S30)
6): Control for opening the special winning opening is started. Specifically, the counter and the flag are initialized, and the solenoid 54 is driven to open the special winning opening. Also, a big hit flag (a flag indicating that a big hit is being made) is set. Upon completion of the process, the internal state (process flag) is updated so as to shift to step S307.

Processing during opening of the special winning opening (step S30)
7): Control for transmitting display control command data for the special winning opening round display to the lamp control board 85, processing for confirming establishment of the closing condition of the special winning opening, and the like are performed. If the closing condition of the final winning opening is satisfied, the internal state is changed to step S308.
Update to move to.

Specific area effective time processing (step S30)
8): The presence or absence of the passage of the V winning switch 55 is monitored to perform processing for confirming that the big hit game state continuation condition is satisfied. If the condition of the jackpot game state continuation is satisfied and there are still remaining rounds, the internal state is updated to shift to step S306. If the big hit game state continuation condition is not satisfied within the predetermined effective time, or if all rounds have been completed, the internal state is changed to step S
309 is updated.

Big hit end processing (step S309): A display for notifying the player that the big hit gaming state has ended is performed. When the display is completed, the internal state is updated so as to shift to step S300.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process for judging that the hit ball has won the starting winning opening 48. When a hit ball wins the start winning port 48 provided in the game board 10, the starting port switch 50 is turned on. For example, in the special symbol change waiting process in step S300 of the special symbol process process, as shown in FIG.
When it is determined via the switch circuit 358 that the starting port switch 50 has been turned on (step S41), it is checked whether or not the number of stored starting winnings has reached the maximum value of 4 (step S42). If the start winning prize memory number has not reached 4, the starting prize storing number is increased by 1 (step S4).
3) Extract the value of each random number such as the big hit determination random number. Then, they are stored in a random number value storage area corresponding to the value of the number of stored winning prizes (step S44). If the number of stored start winnings has reached 4, the process of increasing the number of stored start winnings is not performed. That is, in this embodiment, the number of hit balls that have won the maximum of four starting winning openings 17 can be stored.

In the special symbol process of step S25, the CPU 356 confirms the value of the number of start winning combinations as shown in FIG. 18 (step S51). If the start winning prize memory number is not 0, the value stored in the random number storage area corresponding to the start prize storing number = 1 is read out (step S52), and the value of the starting prize storing number is reduced by one.
In addition, the value of each random value storage area is shifted (step S53). That is, the number of starting winning memories = n (n = 2,
Each value stored in the random number value storage area corresponding to (3, 4) is stored in the random number value storage area corresponding to the number of startup winning storage = n-1.

The CPU 356 proceeds to step S52.
Is determined based on the value read in step 2, that is, the value of the extracted random number for jackpot determination (step S54). Here, the big hit determination random numbers are 0 to 29
A value in the range of 9 will be taken. As shown in FIG.
At the time of low probability, for example, if the value is “3”, it is determined as “big hit”, and if the value is any other value, “out”.
Is determined. When the probability is high, for example, the value is "3",
If it is one of "7", "79", "103", and "107", it is determined as "big hit", and if it is any other value, it is determined as "out".

When it is determined that a big hit is detected, a big hit symbol determining random number (random 3) is extracted, and a big hit symbol is determined according to the value (step S55). In this embodiment, each symbol of the symbol number set in the big hit symbol table according to the value of the extracted random 3 is determined as the big hit symbol. In the big hit symbol table, left and right middle symbol numbers corresponding to each of a plurality of combinations of big hit symbols are set. Step S52
The variation pattern of the symbol is determined on the basis of the value read out in step 2, that is, the value of the extracted variation pattern determining random number (random 4) (step S56).

If it is determined that there is a loss, the CPU 35
No. 6 determines a stop symbol in the case of not making a big hit. In this embodiment, the left symbol is determined according to the value read in step S52, that is, the value of the extracted random 2-1 (step S57). Also, random 2-
The middle symbol is determined according to the value of 2 (step S58).
Then, the right symbol is determined according to the value of random 2-3 (step S59). Here, when the determined middle symbol matches the left and right symbols, the symbol corresponding to the value obtained by adding 1 to the value of the random number corresponding to the middle symbol is set as the stop symbol of the middle symbol so as not to match the big hit symbol. I do.

Further, when the left and right symbols are the same, that is, when it is determined that the reach is established, the CPU 356 determines the value read in step S52, that is, the extracted random number for determining a fluctuation pattern. A symbol variation pattern is determined based on the value of (random 4) (step S60).

In the high-probability state, when a variation pattern with a reduced variation time is used as the variation pattern at the time of a miss, in the high-probability state, the CPU 356 uses a normal variation pattern at the time of a variation or shortens. Whether to use the fluctuation pattern is determined using, for example, a predetermined random number.

As described above, it is determined whether the display mode of the symbol variation based on the winning start is a big hit, a reach mode, or a loss, and the combination of the respective stopped symbols is determined.

The processing shown in FIG. 18 corresponds to step S30 in the special symbol processing shown in FIG.
This corresponds to the processing when the processing of 1 to S303 is collectively shown.

Next, the main board 331 to the display control board 16
The transmission of the display control command for No. 5 will be described.
FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing signal lines of a display control command transmitted from the main board 331 to the display control board 165.
As shown in FIG. 20, in this embodiment, a display control command is transmitted from the main board 331 to the display control board 165 through eight signal lines of display control signals D0 to D7. In addition, a signal line of a display control INT signal for transmitting a strobe signal is also provided between the main board 331 and the display control board 165.

In this embodiment, the display control command has a 2-byte configuration. As shown in FIG. 21, the first byte indicates MODE (classification of command), and the second byte indicates E (command classification).
XT (command type). The first bit (bit 7) of MODE data is always "1", and the first bit (bit 7) of EXT data is always "0". The command form shown in FIG. 21 is an example, and another command form may be used. In this example, the control command is composed of two control signals. However, the number of control signals constituting the control command may be one, or may be three or more. .

FIG. 22 is a timing chart showing the relationship between an 8-bit control signal constituting a control command for the display control board 165 and an INT signal (strobe signal). As shown in FIG. 21, when a predetermined period elapses after the MODE or EXT data is output to the output port, the CPU 356 outputs the signal IN indicating the data output.
Turn on the T signal. When a predetermined period elapses therefrom, the INT signal is turned off.

Although the display control command has been described here, the control commands sent to the other sub-boards are the same as those shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the display control command sent to the display control board 165.
In the example shown in FIG. 23, commands 8000 (H) to 8000 (H)
0XX (H) is a display control command for designating a variation pattern of the special symbol in the variable display device 26 that variably displays the special symbol. Note that the command for designating the variation pattern also serves as the variation start instruction.

Commands 91XX, 92XX and 93X
X is a display control command for designating a left middle right stop symbol of a special symbol. The command 8F00 is a special symbol power-on display command (power-on display command) for instructing the initial display of the special symbol. Upon receiving the power-on display command, the display control means displays a predetermined combination of special symbols on the variable display device 26.
Is displayed. And the command A0XX is
This is a display control command (confirmation command) for instructing to stop the variable display of the special symbol.

The command BXXX is a display control command sent from the start of the big hit game to the end of the big hit game. However, when the normal symbol display 44 is controlled by the lamp control means, B1XX (H) and B2XX
(H) is not sent to the display control board 165. The command C000 (H) is a command for instructing a customer waiting demonstration. This command is used when the variable display device 26 is a CRT or LED.

The command C100 (H) is a special command transmitted when the power-off game state is stored in the backup RAM of the game control means when the power is turned on and the symbols are changing when the power is turned off. This is a symbol power failure recovery command. Upon receiving the special symbol power failure restoration command, the display control means starts control for displaying the instructed left and right symbols. The designated left and right middle symbols are commands to specify left and right middle stop symbols that are sent after the special symbol power failure recovery command, and commands to specify left and right middle stop symbols that were sent just before the power was turned off. This is the same command as

Commands D000 (H) to D400 (H)
Is a display control command related to a variation pattern of a normal symbol. However, when the symbol display 44 is normally controlled by the lamp control means, those commands are not sent to the display control board 165.

When the display control means of the display control board 165 receives the above-mentioned display control command from the game control means of the main board 331, the variable display device 26 and the ordinary symbol display 44 (according to the contents shown in FIG. 23). The display state is changed when the display control means also controls the ordinary symbols.

When a control command is to be output from the game control means to each electric component control board (sub-board), a command transmission table is set. FIG. 24 (A)
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a command transmission table. One command transmission table is composed of three bytes, and INT data is set in the first byte. Also,
The command data 1 in the second byte includes the control command 1
The MODE data of the byte is set. Then, in the command data 2 of the third byte, EXT data of the second byte of the control command is set.

Although the EXT data itself may be set in the command data 2 area, the command data 2
May be set to data for specifying an address of a table in which EXT data is stored. In this embodiment, bit 7 of command data 2
If (work area reference bit) is 0, it indicates that the EXT data itself is set in the command data 2. Such EXT data is data in which bit 7 is 0. If the work area reference bit is 1, the other 7 bits indicate an offset for specifying an address of a table in which EXT data is stored.

FIG. 24B is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of INT data. Bit 0 in the INT data indicates whether or not a payout control command should be sent to the payout control board 98. If bit 0 is "1", it indicates that a payout control command should be sent. Therefore, the CPU 356
Sets "01 (H)" in the INT data in, for example, the prize ball processing (step S31 of the main processing). Bit 1 in the INT data indicates whether or not a display control command should be sent to the display output control board 165.
If bit 1 is "1", it indicates that a display control command should be sent. Therefore, the CPU 356 performs, for example, the display control command control process (step S2 of the main process).
At 7), “02 (H)” is set in the INT data.

Bits 2 and 3 of the INT data are bits indicating whether or not a lamp control command and a voice control command are to be sent, respectively. The INT data, the command data 1 and the command data 2 are set in the command transmission table pointed to by the pointer in the symbol processing or the like. When these commands are transmitted, the corresponding bit of the INT data is set to “1”, and the command data 1 and the command data 2 are set to M.
ODE data and EXT data are set.

In this embodiment, a plurality of command transmission tables are prepared for each control command, and the command transmission table to be used is designated by a pointer. Also, a plurality of command transmission tables are used as a ring buffer. For example, as shown in FIG. 24C, twelve command transmission tables are prepared for display control commands. Therefore, the CPU 356
Sets the INT data, the command data 1 and the command data 2 in the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter in the display control command control process, for example. Then, the command transmission number counter is updated. Then, when the value of the command transmission number counter becomes 12, the value is returned to 0.

FIG. 25 is a display control command control process in the game control process shown in FIG. 11 (step S27).
9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing of FIG. The display control command control process is a process including a command output process and an INT signal output process. In the display control command control process, the CPU 356 first saves the address (contents of the read pointer) of the command transmission table in a stack or the like (step S331). Then, the INT data of the command transmission table pointed to by the read pointer is loaded into the argument 1 (step S332). Argument 1 is input information for a command transmission process described later. Further, the address indicating the command transmission table is incremented by 1 (step S).
333). Therefore, the address indicating the command transmission table matches the address of the command data 1.

Then, the CPU 356 reads out the command data 1 and sets it as the argument 2 (step S33).
4). The argument 2 also becomes input information for a command transmission process described later. Then, a command transmission processing routine is called (step S335).

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a command transmission routine. In the command transmission routine,
First, the CPU 356 sets the data set in the argument 1, that is, the INT data, in the work area determined as the comparison value (step S351). Next, the number of transmissions = 4 is set in the work area determined as the number of processes (step S352). Then, the address of port 1 for outputting the payout control signal is set to IO.
The address is set (step S353). In this embodiment, the address of port 1 is the address of an output port for outputting a payout control signal. The addresses of ports 2 to 4 are the addresses of output ports for outputting display control signals, lamp control signals, and audio control signals.

Next, the CPU 356 shifts the comparison value one bit to the right (step S354). It is determined whether or not the carry bit has become 1 as a result of the shift processing (step S355). The fact that the carry bit has become 1 means that the rightmost bit in the INT data is “1”.
It means that it was. In this embodiment, four shift processes are performed. For example, when it is specified that a payout control command should be sent, the carry bit becomes 1 in the first shift process.

When the carry bit becomes 1, the data set in the argument 2, in this case, the command data 1 (ie, MODE data) is output to the address set as the IO address (step S3
56). When the first shift process is performed, the port 1 address is set in the IO address. At this time, the MODE data of the payout control command is
Is output to

Next, the CPU 356 increments the IO address by 1 (step S357) and decreases the number of processes by one.
Subtraction is performed (step S358). If port 1 is indicated before the addition, the IO address is set to the address of port 3 by the addition processing for the IO address. Port 2 is a port for outputting a display control command. Then, the CPU 356 checks the value of the number of processes (step S359), and returns to step S354 if the value is not 0. The shift process is performed again in step S354.

In the second shift processing, the value of bit 1 in the INT data is pushed out, and the carry flag becomes "1" or "0" according to the value of bit 1. Therefore,
A check is made as to whether it is specified that a display control command should be sent. Similarly, in the third and fourth shift processes, it is checked whether or not it is specified that the ramp control command and the voice control command should be transmitted. As described above, when each shift process is performed, the IO address corresponding to the command (payout control command, display control command, lamp control command, voice control command) set by the shift process is set in the IO address. Have been.

Therefore, when the carry flag becomes "1", the corresponding output port (port 1 to port 4)
Is sent to the control command. That is, a single common module can perform a process of transmitting a control command to each electric component control unit.

As described above, since it is determined only by the shift processing to which electric component control means the control command is to be output, it is determined to which electric component control means the control command is to be output. Processing has been simplified.

Next, the CPU 356 reads the contents of the argument 1 storing the INT data before the start of the shift processing (step S360), and transfers the read data to the port 0.
(Step S361). In this embodiment, the address of port 0 is set to the IN for each control signal.
It is a port for outputting a T signal, and bits 0 to 4 of port 0 are ports for outputting a payout control INT signal, a display control INT signal, a lamp control INT signal, and a voice control INT signal, respectively. In the INT data,
The bit corresponding to the output bit of the INT signal corresponding to the control command (payout control command, display control command, lamp control command, voice control command) output in the processing of steps S351 to S359 is “1”.
Therefore, the IN corresponding to the control command (payout control command, display control command, lamp control command, voice control command) output to any of the ports 1 to 4
The T signal is turned on.

Next, CPU 356 sets a predetermined value in the weight counter (step S362), and the value becomes 0
(Steps S363 and S36)
4). This processing is performed according to the I shown in the timing diagram of FIG.
This is a process for setting the ON period of the NT signal (control signal INT). When the value of the wait counter becomes 0, clear data (00) is set (step S365),
The data is output to port 0 (step S36)
6). Therefore, the INT signal is turned off. And
A predetermined value is set in the weight counter (step S36)
2) Subtract 1 by 1 until the value becomes 0 (steps S368 and S369). This process is a process for setting a period from the fall of the first INT signal to the start of EXT data output.

Therefore, the value set in the wait counter in step S367 is such that the period from the fall of the first INT signal to the start of the EXT data output corresponds to all the electric component control means (sub This is a value sufficient to ensure that the CPU mounted on the board performs a command receiving process. Further, the value set in the weight counter is a value such that the period is longer than the time required for the processing of steps S351 to S359.

As described above, the MODE data of the first byte of the control command is transmitted. Therefore, CPU3
56 adds 1 to the value indicating the command transmission table in step S336 shown in FIG. Therefore, the area of the command data 2 in the third byte is specified. CPU356
Loads the contents of the indicated command data 2 into the argument 2 (step S337). The value of bit 7 (work area reference bit) of command data 2 is “0”
Is determined (step S339). If it is not 0, the start address of the command extension data address table is set in the pointer (step S339), and the address is calculated by adding the value of bit 6 to bit 0 of the command data 2 to the pointer (step S340).
Then, the data of the area indicated by the address is loaded into the argument 2 (step S341).

In the command extension data address table, EXT data that can be transmitted to the electric component control means is sequentially set. Therefore, if the value of the work area reference bit is “1” by the above processing, the EXT data in the command extension data address table corresponding to the content of the command data 2 is loaded into the argument 2 and the work area reference bit is set. If the value is “0”, the content of the command data 2 is loaded as it is into the argument 2. Even when EXT data is read from the command extension data address table, bit 7 of that data is “0”.

Next, the CPU 356 calls a command transmission routine (step S342). Therefore, MO
The EXT data is transmitted at the same timing as the transmission of the DE data. Thereafter, the CPU 356 returns the address of the command transmission table (step S34).
3) Update the value of the read pointer pointing to the command transmission table (step S344). When the value of the read pointer exceeds the position of the command transmission table 12 shown in FIG. 24C, the value of the read pointer is returned to 0.

[0173] Further, when an untransmitted control command is set in the command transmission table, the flow returns to step S331. When returning to step S331, control commands are continuously transmitted, so that a delay time is set to allow an interval between control commands. Whether or not an untransmitted control command has been set is determined, for example, by comparing the value of the command transmission counter with the value of the read pointer.

As described above, the command control processing module, which is one control signal output module,
Each 2-byte control command (dispensing control command, display control command, lamp control command, voice control command) is transmitted to the corresponding electric component control means. In the electric component control means, when detecting the falling of the INT signal as the fetch signal, the control command fetch process is started. Is not output to the signal line. That is,
In each electric component control means, a reliable command receiving process is performed. Note that each electric component control unit may start the process of capturing a control command at the rising edge of the INT signal. Also, the polarity of the INT signal may be reversed from that shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, a plurality of command transmission tables are used as a ring buffer.
In the command control process shown in FIG. 5, command output control is performed on the command transmission table pointed to by the read pointer, and in the process of setting data in the command transmission table, for example, in the display control command control process in the game control process, The command setting process is performed on the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter. Therefore, even if a plurality of command transmission requests occur at the same time, the command output process based on those requests is executed without any problem.

Further, in this embodiment, when a plurality of control commands are set in the command transmission table, all control commands are transmitted in one command control process. Since the command control process (for example, the display control command control process) is started once every 2 ms,
All control commands are transmitted in the ms main processing activation cycle. Further, in this embodiment, for each control command (display control command, lamp control command, voice control command, payout control command) to each control means,
Since a plurality of command transmission tables are prepared for each, for example, when a control command is set in the command transmission table of the display control command, the lamp control command, and the voice control command, all of them are performed in one command control process. It is also possible to send a display control command, a lamp control command and a voice control command.
That is, at the same time (meaning in one main processing start cycle),
These control commands can be sent. Since such control commands are transmitted at the same time during the progress of the game effect, it is convenient to have such a configuration. However, the payout control command is generated irrespective of the progress of the game effect, and is generally not sent simultaneously with the display control command, the lamp control command, and the voice control command.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a display control command transmission portion in the sub-board initialization processing (step S13) of the main processing shown in FIG. In the sub-board initialization processing, the CPU 356 first sets 8F (H) to the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (the initial value is 0) (step S201), and sets 00 (H) to the command data 2. H)
Is set (step S202), and 02 is set in the INT data.
(H) is set (step S203). Therefore, a power-on display command is set. And the CPU 35
No. 6 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (step S204). Next, the display control command control process shown in FIG. 25 is called (step S24).
3). Therefore, the display control command set in the command transmission table is transmitted.

Upon receiving the power-on display command, the display control means displays a predetermined initial display symbol on the variable display device 26. For example, a combination of symbols "7", "bell", and "7" (see FIG. 15) as initial display symbols is displayed.

FIG. 28 is a timing chart showing an example of sending a display control command relating to a special symbol sent from the main board 331 to the display control board 165 when power supply to the gaming machine is started. The power-on display command is set in the command transmission table by the process shown in FIG. 27 (the process of step S13 of the main process shown in FIG. 11). And
In the display control command control process (step S243), the command is transmitted.

During the normal game control, not when the power is turned on, the game control means sends a change pattern command and a command indicating the middle left and right symbols when starting the change of the symbol, and according to the change pattern. A special symbol design stop command (confirmation command) is transmitted at such a timing that the variation of the symbol can be stopped when the determined variation time has elapsed.

FIGS. 29 and 30 are flowcharts showing an example of a non-maskable interrupt process (power supply stop process) executed in response to a power-off signal from the power supply board 910. In this embodiment, the power-off signal from the power supply board 910 is connected to the non-maskable interrupt terminal of the CPU 356. It is also assumed that all RAMs are backed up by a backup power supply.

In the power supply stop processing, the CPU 35
6 saves the AF register (accumulator and flag register) in a predetermined backup RAM area (step S101). Further, the interrupt flag is copied to the parity flag (step S102). The parity flag is formed in the backup RAM area. Also, BC
The register, the DE register, the HL register, the IX register, and the stack pointer are saved in the backup RAM area (Steps S104 to S108).

Next, the backup specified value (in this example, “55H”) is stored in the backup flag. The backup flag is formed in the backup RAM area. Next, parity data is created (steps S110 to S117). That is, first, the clear data (00) is set in the checksum data area (step S110), and the checksum calculation start address is set in the pointer (step S111). Further, the number of checksum calculations is set (step S112).

Then, the exclusive OR of the contents of the checksum data area and the contents of the RAM area pointed to by the pointer is calculated (step S113). The calculation result is stored in the checksum data area (step S11).
4), the value of the pointer is increased by 1 (step S115),
The value of the number of checksum calculations is subtracted by 1 (step S1).
16). The processing of steps S113 to S116 is repeated until the value of the number of times of checksum calculation becomes 0 (step S117).

When the value of the number of checksum calculations becomes 0, the CPU 356 inverts the value of each bit of the contents of the checksum data area (step S118). Then, the inverted data is stored in the checksum data area (step S119). This data is the parity data that is checked when the power is turned on. Then, R
An access prohibition value is set in the AM access register (step S120). Thereafter, the internal RAM 55 cannot be accessed.

Further, CPU 356 sets clear data (00) in an appropriate register (step S12).
1) The number of processes ("7" in this example) according to the number of 8-bit output ports is set in another register (step S).
122). Further, the address of the output port 0 is set in the IO pointer (step S123). Yet another register is used as the IO pointer.

Then, clear data is set at the address pointed to by the IO pointer (step S17).
4), increment the value of the IO pointer by 1 (step S12)
5), the value of the number of processes is subtracted by 1 (step S127).
In the processing of steps S124 to S126, the value of the processing number is 0
Repeat until. As a result, clear data is set to all output ports 0 to 6. In this example,
“1” is in the ON state and “00” which is clear data
Is set to each output port, so that all output ports are turned off.

Therefore, after the processing for saving the game state (in this example, generation of the checksum and prevention of RAM access), each output port is immediately turned off. In this embodiment, the RAM area in which data used in the game control process is stored is all backed up by power. Therefore, a process of generating a checksum indicating whether or not the content is correctly stored, and an R for preventing the content from being rewritten.
The AM access prevention process corresponds to a process for saving a gaming state.

Since each output port is immediately turned off after the processing for storing the game state is executed, it is possible to reliably prevent a situation in which the game state does not match the stored game state. When the processing shown in FIGS. 29 and 30 is executed, the supply of power to the gaming machine is stopped, so that the voltage applied to the electric components decreases. Then, when the applied voltage falls below the drivable voltage, the driving of the electric component is stopped. Therefore, when the power supply to the gaming machine is stopped, the driving of the electric components is stopped although there is a short delay.

Hereinafter, the game state restoring process will be described. FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing an example of the gaming state restoring process shown in step S9 of FIG. In this example, the CPU 356 restores the value stored in the backup RAM to each register (Step S91).
Then, based on the data stored in the backup RAM, the game state at the time of the power failure is confirmed and restored. That is, based on the data stored in the backup RAM, the solenoid 4
9 and the solenoid 54 are driven to restore the open state of the start winning port 48 and the open / close plate 53 (steps S92 and S9).
3). In addition, according to the value of the special symbol process flag and the normal symbol process flag that have been saved even during the power-off, the control command corresponding to the progress status of the special symbol process process and the normal symbol process process at the time of power-off, The information is sent to the display control board 165, the lamp control board 85, and the audio control board 97 (step S94).

As described above, in the game state restoring process, the states of various electric components are restored according to the restored internal state, and the display control board 165, the lamp control board 85, and the audio control board 97 are restored. Then, a control command for returning the control state to the power-off state (a control command for restoring the control state at the time of power-off) is transmitted.

When the game state is returned to the state at the time of power-off, in this embodiment, the CPU 356 restores the interrupt permission / prohibition state at the time of the previous power-off to save the parity stored in the backup RAM. The value of the flag is confirmed (step S95). If the parity flag is off, interrupt permission setting is performed (step S96). However, if the parity flag is in the on state, the game state restoring process is terminated as it is (with the interrupt prohibition state set in step S1). The fact that the parity flag is in the ON state means that the interrupt was prohibited at the time of the previous power-off, as shown in step S102 in FIG. Therefore, when the parity flag is in the ON state, the interruption is not permitted.

When the game state is restored, if the symbol is changing when the power is turned off, the remaining time of the changing time is restored, or the number of the winning prize stored is restored. Therefore, the game control means can continue the symbol variation control from the state at the time of power-off, and control for immediately starting a new symbol variation based on the restored starting winning memory (the symbol at power-off) (If not fluctuating). Further, when the symbol is changing when the power is turned off, the data indicating the left and right middle symbols that should have been stopped and displayed in the change can be restored.

FIGS. 32 to 35 are flowcharts showing an example of the display control command sending process in the control command sending process (step S94) of the game state restoring process shown in FIG. In the control command sending process of the game state restoring process, the CPU 356 first checks whether or not the special symbol was changing when the power was last turned off (step S).
251). Whether or not the special symbol is changing can be determined from the restored data. If the special symbol is changing, C1 (H) is set in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S256), and 00 (H) is set in the command data 2.
Is set (step S257), and 02 is added to the INT data.
(H) is set (step S258). Therefore, the special symbol power restoration display designation command (restoration command) is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (step S25).
9).

Next, the CPU 356 sets 91 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S260), and responds to the left symbol stop command transmitted before the previous power-off. The data is set in the command data 2 (step S26)
1), 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S262). Therefore, the left symbol designating command used in the fluctuation when the power was last turned off is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (Step S263).

The CPU 356 sets 92 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S264), and sets the data corresponding to the medium symbol stop command transmitted before the previous power-off. Is set in the command data 2 (step S26).
5), 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S266). Therefore, the middle symbol designation command used in the fluctuation when the power was last turned off is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (Step S267).

Further, the CPU 356 sets 93 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S268), and sets the data corresponding to the right symbol stop command transmitted before the previous power-off. Is set in the command data 2 (step S26).
9), 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S270). Therefore, the right symbol designating command used in the fluctuation when the power was last turned off is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (Step S271).

By the processing of steps S260 to S271, a display control command for instructing to display the stop symbol used in the fluctuation at the time of the previous power-off is set in the command transmission table.

If it is confirmed in step S255 that the special symbol is not being changed, as shown in FIG. 33, the CPU 356 first sets the command data in the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (initial value is 0). 1 is set to 91 (H) (step S205),
The command data 2 is set to the data corresponding to the left symbol stop command sent last before the power was turned off last time (step S206A), and 02 (H) is set to the INT data (step S207). Therefore, the left symbol designating command transmitted last before the power is turned off last time is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (step S209).

Further, the CPU 356 sets 92 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S209), and sets the command data 2 to the last symbol transmitted before the last power-off. Data corresponding to the stop command is set (step S2
10A), 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S211). Therefore, the middle symbol designating command transmitted last before the power is turned off last time is set. And C
The PU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (Step S212).

Further, the CPU 356 sets 93 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S213), and in the command data 2, the last symbol transmitted before the last power-off. Set the data corresponding to the stop command (step S
214A), 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S215). Therefore, the right symbol designation command transmitted last before the power is turned off last time is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (step S216).

Further, the CPU 356 sets A0 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S217), and sets 00 (H) in the command data 2 (step S21).
8), 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S219). Therefore, a special symbol stop command (confirmation command) is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (step S220).

By the above processing, a symbol designating command for designating a left and right middle symbol and a decision command are set in the command transmission table. And those commands are
A display control command control process described later (step S29)
8) is sent to the display control means.

Since the display control means performs the variation control aiming at the symbol by the received left and right middle stop symbol command, if there is backup data and the symbol is not changing when the power is turned off, after the initial variation of the symbol, The middle left and right symbols that were displayed when the power was turned off are displayed. The symbol changes when the power is restored, but the symbol displayed at the time of the power failure etc. becomes the stop symbol as it is, so the player etc. can immediately recognize that the restoration process from the power failure etc. has been performed it can. In the case of a gaming machine having a variable display device such as a CRT or an LCD, the game control means sends a corresponding display control command when the power is turned on, so that the background and the character are also displayed in the display state when a power failure or the like occurs. You can go back. That is, the game control means sends a command corresponding to the content displayed on the variable display device to the display control means when the power supply to the gaming machine is stopped,
The display control means can also restore the background, character, and the like displayed on the variable display device when the power supply to the gaming machine is stopped.

The following control may be performed in a gaming machine in which the display control means normally controls the display of symbols. That is, the CPU 356 checks whether or not the ordinary symbols were changing when the power was last turned off (step S).
285). Ordinarily, whether or not the symbol is changing can be determined from the restored data. If the symbol is normally changing, D4 (H) is set for the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S286), and 00 (H) is set for the command data 2.
Is set (step S287), and 02 is added to the INT data.
(H) is set (step S288). Therefore, the normal symbol power supply restoration display setting command is set. And
The CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (Step S289).

Further, the CPU 356 sets D1 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S290), and sets the last display control command of the normal symbol left designation transmitted at the time of power-off. The corresponding data is set in the command data 2 (step S291), and 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S292). Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (Step S293).

Then, the CPU 356 sets D2 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S294), and sets the last display control command of the ordinary symbol right designated at power-off. The corresponding data is set in the command data 2 (step S295), and 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S296). Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (step S297). Further, D3 is added to the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter.
(H) is set (step S381), 00 (H) is set in the command data 2 (step S382), and INT is set.
02 (H) is set in the data (step S38)
3). Therefore, a normal symbol stop command is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (step S220). Instead of controlling the normal symbol stop command to be transmitted as described above, a variable pattern command relating to the normal symbol may be transmitted. In this case, the game state before the occurrence of the power outage or the like is restored, so the game control means usually measures the remaining time in the fluctuation time of the symbol,
At that time, a normal symbol stop command is sent. Therefore,
The display control means can perform variation control on the remaining time for the ordinary symbol.

Next, the display control command control processing shown in FIG. 25 is called (step S298). Therefore, each display control command set in the command transmission table is sequentially transmitted. In this embodiment,
Set each display control command in the command transmission table,
After that, each command is transmitted collectively. Alternatively, the transmission command may be set in the buffer, and the command in the buffer may be transmitted each time the command is set in the buffer.

In step S285, if it is confirmed that the normal symbol is not changing, as shown in FIG. 35, the CPU 356 stores D1 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter.
Is set (step S235), and the data corresponding to the display control command of the normal symbol left designation last sent out when the power is turned off is set in the command data 2 (step S236).
A), 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S237). Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (Step S23).
8).

Then, the CPU 356 sets D2 (H) in the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter (step S239), and sets the normal symbol right designation display control command transmitted last when the power is turned off. The corresponding data is set in the command data 2 (step S240A), and 02 (H) is set in the INT data (step S241). Further, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (Step S242). Further, D3 is added to the command data 1 of the command transmission table indicated by the command transmission number counter.
(H) is set (step S381), 00 (H) is set in the command data 2 (step S382), and INT is set.
02 (H) is set in the data (step S38)
3). Therefore, a normal symbol stop command is set. Then, the CPU 356 updates (+1) the value of the command transmission number counter (step S220).

Next, the display control command control processing shown in FIG. 25 is called (step S243). Therefore, each display control command set in the command transmission table is sequentially transmitted. In this embodiment,
Set each display control command in the command transmission table,
After that, each command is transmitted collectively. Alternatively, the transmission command may be set in the buffer, and the command in the buffer may be transmitted each time the command is set in the buffer.

FIG. 36 shows a state in which power supply to the gaming machine is started.
If the game state is saved in the backup RAM and the special symbol is changing at the time of the previous power-off,
FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing an example of sending a display control command related to a special symbol sent from the main board 331 to the display control board 165. By the process shown in FIG. 32 (corresponding to the process of step S94 of the game state restoring process shown in FIG. 31), a special symbol power failure restoration display command and a command for designating an initial display symbol in the left and right are set in the command transmission table. . Then, in the display control command control process (step S298), those commands are sequentially output.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
These display control commands are sent. In particular,
The time required to send all display control commands is shorter than the 2 ms interrupt generation interval, and at least 2 ms of timer interrupt does not take place until all display control commands have been sent.

FIG. 37 shows a case where the gaming state is stored in the backup RAM at the time of starting the power supply to the gaming machine and the special symbol is not being changed at the time of the previous power-off. It is a timing chart which shows the example of transmission of the display control command regarding the special symbol transmitted to display control board 165. By the process shown in FIG. 33 (corresponding to the latter half of the process of step S94 of the game state restoring process shown in FIG. 31), a symbol designating command for designating the left and right symbols and a special symbol stop command (fixing command) are added to the command transmission table. Is set. Then, in the display control command control process (step S298), those commands are sequentially output.

Next, the operation of the display control means will be described. FIG. 38 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a portion related to driving of the drum motors 200A, 200B, and 200C in the display control board 165. As shown in FIG. 38, from a power supply board 910 provided separately from various control boards such as the main board 331 and the display control board 165, + for driving the drum motors 200A, 200B and 200C.
A voltage of 30 V is supplied to the display control board 165. +
The 30V voltage is applied to each of the drum motors 200A, 200B, 2
Switching circuit 191 provided for 00C
A, 191B, 191C and the AD converter 410.

Switching circuits 191A, 191B, 1
91C has a +30 V pulse waveform (PW) according to a switching signal from a built-in output port of the display control CPU 401.
M waveform). For example, the switching circuit 191
In A, during the period when the high level is output from the output port, the transistors Tr1 and Tr2
Are both conducted, and the VA output terminal becomes 0V. In addition, during the period when the low level is output from the output port, both the transistor Tr1 and the transistor Tr2 are turned off, and +30 V is applied to the VA output terminal via the diode.
Appears (ignoring the voltage drop due to the diode).

FIG. 38 shows a switching circuit 191.
Although only the configuration example of A is shown, the switching circuit 1
The configuration of 91B and the switching circuit 191C is the same as the configuration of the switching circuit 191A.

The display control CPU 401 monitors the +30 voltage via the AD converter 410. When the value deviates from +30 V, the switching circuit 191A,
The duty ratio of the switching signal provided to 191B and 191C is adjusted.

[0219] The display control CPU 401 outputs the drum motors 200A, 200A through the output port 511.
A motor drive signal for driving each of the drive coils B and 200C is output. Motor drive signals from the output port 511 are supplied to drive circuits (amplifier circuits) 176A, 176B,
176C via the drum motors 200A, 200B, 2
00C is applied to one end of each drive coil. Switching circuits 191A, 191B,
The PWM waveform generated by 191C is applied.
The PWM waveform is an effective power supply voltage for each drive coil. The driving circuits 176A, 176B, 176C
And switching circuits 191A, 191B, 191C
Are drum motors 200A, 200B,
This is a drive control circuit that controls 200C.

The drum motors 200A to 200C have drum sensors 139A, 139B, 13 for position detection.
9C is installed. Drum sensors 139A, 139
The detection signals of B and 139C are input to the display control CPU 401 via the amplifier circuit 177 and the input port 521. A non-reflective portion is provided at a predetermined position on each of the rotating drums 122A to 122C. Then, the drum sensors 139A, 139B, 139C using, for example, a reflection type photo sensor are located at positions where a non-reflection portion can be detected.
Is provided. Drum sensors 139A, 139B,
When each of the 139C detects the non-reflection portion, it outputs a detection signal indicating the detection. Display control CPU 40
Reference numeral 1 denotes rotating drums 122A to 122C according to detection signals.
Can be recognized as having come to a predetermined position, and the positions of the rotating drums 122A to 122C at any timing during rotation, that is, the display symbols can be recognized based on the position. The drum sensors 139A, 139
B and 139C are supplied with a +12 V voltage from the power supply substrate.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a portion related to driving of the drum lamps 151A to 151C on the display control board 165. In this example, each of the drum lamps 151A to 151C includes three white lunar lights (hot cathode tubes) and two red lunar lights.

One of the two filament-side terminals of each lunar light is grounded, and the other is supplied with a heater drive voltage. The anode is connected to the output port 511 and the drive circuit (amplifier circuit) 17 from the display control CPU 401.
Lighting signals are applied via 8A, 178B, 178C. The lunar light emits light when a lighting signal is applied to the anode while the heater drive voltage is being applied and the filament is being heated.

As shown in FIG. 39, in this embodiment, the heater drive voltage of three white lunar lights and the heater drive voltage of two red lunar lights in each of the drum lamps 151A to 151C are controlled by different systems. Have been. In this example, a control signal for driving a red lunar light and a control signal for driving a white lunar light are independently output from a built-in output port of the display control CPU 401. Further, all the filaments of the white lunar light of each of the drum lamps 151A to 151C are driven by one heater driving voltage, and all the filaments of the red lunar light are driven by one heater driving voltage. In this embodiment, all the white Luna lights blink synchronously and all the red Luna lights blink synchronously. Therefore, there is no problem even if all the white lunar lights and all the red lunar lights are each driven by one heater driving voltage.

The control signal for driving red lunar light from the CPU 401 for display control becomes a switching signal of the switching circuit 178D. The switching circuit 178D supplies +
A 5.4V voltage is supplied to or cut off from the red lunarite filament of each of the drum lamps 151A to 151C. The white luna light drive control signal is a switching signal of the switching circuit 178E. The switching circuit 178E applies the + 5.4V voltage supplied from the power supply board to each of the drum lamps
It feeds or blocks filaments of white lunarite from 1A to 151C.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing the main processing executed by the display control CPU 401. In the main process, first, an initial value setting process such as clearing a RAM area is performed (step S701). After that, in this embodiment, the display control CPU 401 shifts to a loop process for checking the monitoring of the timer interrupt flag (step S702). In the loop, a process of updating a counter for generating a predetermined random number is also performed (step S710). Then, as shown in FIG. 41, when a timer interrupt occurs, the display control CPU 401 sets a timer interrupt flag (step S711). In the main processing, if the timer interrupt flag is set,
The display control CPU 101 clears the flag (step S703) and executes the following variable display control processing.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the timer interruption is performed every 2 ms. That is, the variable display control process is activated every 2 ms. Further, in this embodiment, only the flag is set in the timer interruption processing, and the specific variable display control processing is executed in the main processing. However, the variable display control processing may be executed in the timer interruption processing. .

In the variable display control process, the display control C
The PU 401 first detects the drum sensors 139A, 139
Sensor processing is performed to determine whether B, 139C has been turned on (step S704). Further, the received display control command is analyzed (command analysis execution processing: step S
705). Next, the display control CPU 401 outputs a drive signal to the drum motors 200A, 200B, 200C, and outputs the drive signals to the drum motors 200A, 200A for a predetermined number of rotations.
Motor control processing for rotating 0B and 200C is performed (step S706).

In this embodiment, the drum motor 200
The 1-2-phase excitation method is used as the driving method for A, 200B, and 200C. Therefore, specifically, in the motor control process (step S706), eight types of excitation pattern data including the reference excitation pattern are repeatedly output to the drum motors 200A, 200B, and 200C. Also,
In this example, the rotating drums 122A to 122C
When an excitation pattern of steps (12 steps per symbol) is given, one rotation is made. Therefore, during one rotation, a reference excitation pattern of 240/8 = 30 is given to each drum motor 200A, 200B, 200C. That is, the display control CPU 401 outputs the drum motors 200A, 200B,
It can be recognized that 200C has made one rotation. Also,
When the 12-step excitation pattern is output, it can be recognized that the pattern has been rotated by one symbol.

[0229] In the RAM of the display control means, for example, a data area indicating a currently displayed symbol of a left and right middle symbol is prepared. Then, in the motor control processing, when the excitation pattern of 12 steps is output, the data indicating the presently displayed symbol is incremented by one.

Next, the display control CPU 401 performs a display control process (step S708). In the display control process, a process corresponding to the current control state is selected and executed from among the processes corresponding to the control state. Further, a test signal output process is performed (step S70).
9). Then, the process returns to step S710.

Next, a process of receiving a display control command from the main board 331 will be described. FIG. 42 shows the main substrate 331.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a configuration of a command receiving buffer for storing a display control command received from the server. In this example, a ring buffer type command reception buffer capable of storing six display control commands having a 2-byte configuration is used. Therefore, the command receiving buffer is configured by a 12-byte area of the receiving command buffers 1 to 12. Then, a command reception number counter indicating in which area the received command is stored is used. The command reception number counter takes a value from 0 to 11.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing the display control command receiving process by the interrupt process. Main board 331
The INT signal for display control from the display control CPU 40
1 is input to the interrupt terminal. For example, the main substrate 331
When the INT signal is turned on, the display control CP
An interrupt occurs at U401. Then, the reception processing of the display control command shown in FIG. 43 is started.

In the display control command receiving process, the display control CPU 401 first saves each register in the stack (step S670). Note that, when an interrupt occurs, the display control CPU 401 automatically sets the interrupt prohibition state. However, if a CPU that does not automatically enter the interrupt prohibition state is used, the display control CPU 401 executes the processing before step S670. It is preferable to issue an interrupt prohibition command (DI command). Next, data is read from the input port assigned to the input of the display control command data (step S671). Then, it is confirmed whether or not this is the first byte of the display control command having the 2-byte configuration (step S).
672).

Whether it is the first byte or not is confirmed based on whether the first bit of the received command is “1”. The first bit is "1", which should be MODE data (first byte) in the display control command having a 2-byte configuration (see FIG. 21). Therefore, if the first bit is “1”, the display control CPU 401 determines that the valid first byte has been received, and stores the received command in the reception command buffer indicated by the command reception number counter in the reception buffer area (step). S67
3).

If it is not the first byte of the display control command, it is checked whether the first byte has already been received (step S674). Whether or not the data has already been received is confirmed based on whether or not valid data is set in the reception buffer (reception command buffer).

If the first byte has already been received,
It is checked whether the first bit of the received 1 byte is “0”. And if the first bit is “0”,
Assuming that the valid second byte has been received, the received command is stored in the reception command buffer indicated by the command reception number counter +1 in the reception buffer area (step S675). The first bit is "0", which should be the EXT data (the second byte) in the display control command having the 2-byte configuration (see FIG. 21). If the confirmation result in step S674 indicates that the first byte has already been received, the process ends if the first bit of the data received as the second byte is not “0”.

When the second byte of command data is stored in step S675, 2 is added to the command reception number counter (step S676). Then, it is checked whether or not the command reception counter is 12 or more (step S677), and if it is 12, the command reception number counter is cleared (step S678). Thereafter, the saved register is restored (step S679),
Interrupt permission is set (step S680).

The display control command has a two-byte configuration, and the first byte (MODE) and the second byte (EXT) can be immediately distinguished on the receiving side. In other words, the receiving side can immediately detect whether the data as MODE or the data as EXT has been received by the first bit. Therefore, as described above, it can be easily determined whether or not appropriate data has been received. This means that the payout control command,
The same applies to the lamp control command and the voice control command.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a specific example of the initialization processing of the display control means shown in FIG. In addition,
Here, the explanation will focus on the initialization of special symbols,
When the display control means also controls the display of the ordinary symbols, the initial display control of the ordinary symbols is also executed.

In the initialization processing, the display control CPU 4
In step S718, first, the registers and the RAM are initialized (step S718). Then, while calling the command analysis process (step S719), it waits for the reception of the special symbol power-on display command or the special symbol power failure recovery display command from the main board 331 (steps S720 and S721). When the special symbol power-on display command is received, the driving of the drum motors 200A, 200B, 200C is started (step S724). When the special symbol power failure recovery display command is received, the drum motors 200A, 200B, 200C
Is started (step S724). in this way,
In the initialization process executed at the start of power supply, the error flag is not set even if the fluctuation pattern command is not received first.

If a decision command is received (step S722), an error flag is set (step S723), and then the drum motors 200A, 200A are set.
B, driving of 200C is started (step S724).
As described above, in the initialization processing executed at the start of power supply, an error flag is set when a determination command is first received. As described later, when the error flag is set, a variable display device error signal is output outside the gaming machine. It should be noted that the case where the confirmation command is received first is a case where the game state is stored in the backup RAM of the game control means at the time of starting the power supply and the special symbol is not changing at the time of the previous power-off. In this case, in this embodiment, a symbol designating command for designating the left and right middle symbols and a special symbol stop command (confirmation command) are transmitted (see FIG. 37). That is, after the power supply is started, if the display control unit has not received another command before receiving the symbol designation command, an error flag is set. Then, a monitoring timer for determining whether or not the detection signals of the drum sensors 139A, 139B, and 139C detect the non-reflection portions of the rotating drums 122A to 122C (whether or not the drum sensor is turned on) is set (step S725). ).

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the initialization process, the game control means supplies power to the backup RAM without receiving a variation pattern command as a variable display command indicating the start of symbol variation. A special symbol power-on display command sent when the game control state at the time of disconnection has not been saved, or that the game control state has been saved in the backup RAM and the game control state has been changed. If a special symbol power outage recovery display command transmitted in the case of being displayed is received, it is determined that a predetermined condition is satisfied and the error flag is not set. However, at the start of power supply, it may be considered that the predetermined condition is always satisfied. That is, at the start of power supply, the error flag may not be set even if the fluctuation pattern command is not received.

At this stage, the drum lamps 151A to 151C are initialized by the initialization process (step S721).
Is off. However, when the customer waiting demonstration display command is received from the main board 331, the drum lamps 151A to 151C are turned on / off in the lamp lighting pattern for the customer waiting demonstration display.

Then, the command analysis processing (step S7)
26) And while calling the motor control process and the drum ramp process (step S727), it waits until the drum sensor is turned on (step S728). Note that FIG.
It is shown to wait for two drum sensors to turn on,
Actually, three drum sensors 139A, 139B, 1
Steps S726 to S72 for each of 39C
9 is performed. The motor control processing (step S727) is the same as the processing of step S706 in the main processing.

If the monitoring timer times out before the drum sensor is turned on (step S731), the flow shifts to step S765. When a variation pattern command is received from the main board 331 (step S73)
2) Perform processing for shifting to normal variable display control. Here, if the special symbol power failure restoration display command has been received (step S729), a drum lamp extinguishment request is set (step S730). Note that, in place of the drum lamp turn-off request, a request may be made such that the drum lamp blinks, turns on, or turns off in a predetermined lighting pattern. However, such a pattern is different from a lighting pattern used at the time of a normal symbol change. That is, a lighting pattern that can specify that the special symbol power failure restoration display command has been received is used. Lighting or extinguishing may be performed only for white lunar lights or only red lunar lights.

When the drum sensor is turned on, the rotary drum is at a predetermined position. The currently displayed symbol corresponding to that position is set in the currently displayed symbol data area, and the left and right middle symbols received from the main board 331 are set. According to the difference between the data indicating the stop symbol and the currently displayed symbol data, the time until the rotation of the drum motor is stopped while the stop symbol is displayed is calculated (step S741). Then, the calculated time is set in a timer (step S742).

If the special symbol power-on display command has been received in step S741, the stop is performed according to the difference between the data indicating the predetermined left and right middle stop symbol and the currently displayed symbol data. The time until the rotation of the drum motor is stopped while the symbol is displayed is calculated.

Next, the display control CPU 401 calls the command analysis processing (step S743), the motor control processing, and the drum lamp processing (step S74).
4) Wait for the timer to time out (step S)
745). Before the timer times out, the main board 331
When a variation pattern command is received from the CPU (step S746), processing for shifting to normal variable display control is performed.

When the timer times out, the main board 33
If the special symbol power failure restoration display command has been received from Step 1 (Step S747), the swing operation instruction flag is set (Step S752). Then, the state is maintained until a fixed command is received (step S754) or a fluctuation pattern designation command is received (step S755). During this time, the command analysis processing, the motor control processing, and the drum ramp processing are called (step S753).

If the special symbol power failure restoration display command has not been received (step S747), the driving of the drum motor is turned off (step S748). If the special symbol power-on display command has been received (step S740), the process shifts to step S759 to end the initialization process. If not, it waits for reception of a fixed command or a variation pattern designation command (steps S750 and S751). During this time, the command analysis processing, the motor control processing, and the drum ramp processing are called (step S749). Then, upon receiving the confirmation command, 2 ms for determining the activation interval of the display control
The timer is initialized (step S759), and the initialization process ends. When a fluctuation pattern command is received, processing for shifting to normal variable display control is performed.

When the determination command is received while the swing operation instruction flag is on (step S754), the display control CPU 401 resets the swing operation instruction flag (step S756), and resets the lamp extinguishing request (step S756). In step S757, the driving of the drum motor is turned off (step S758), and the initial setting of the 2 ms timer for determining the start interval of the display control is performed (step S75).
9), end the initialization processing.

It is preferable that the actual driving of the drum motor is stopped in the motor control processing. This is because if the power supply to the drum motor is suddenly stopped, the drum motor may be adversely affected. Therefore, actually, the drum motor stop request flag is set and the motor control processing is called. Then, in the motor control processing, when the ON of the drum motor stop request flag is detected, the driving of the drum motor is stopped at an appropriate timing. The appropriate timing is an appropriate timing in a series of excitation pattern outputs (such as when one excitation pattern output is completed).

In the motor control process, when the swing operation instruction flag is on, the drum motor 200
For A, 200B, and 200C, the output of the excitation pattern for normal rotation for the predetermined number of steps and the output of the excitation pattern for reverse rotation for the predetermined number of steps are repeated. Therefore, the rotating drums 122A to 122C perform a swinging operation.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing a process executed when a variation pattern command is received, and showing a process for shifting to normal control. In the processing, the display control CPU 401 determines to use the change transition notification pattern as the lighting pattern table (step S760). The lighting pattern table is the same as the drum lamp processing in the main processing (step S760).
707), and in the drum lamp process, the lighting / lighting of the drum lamps 151A to 151C is performed in accordance with the lighting / lighting-off pattern set in the table determined to be used as the lighting pattern table.
Controls turning off. Further, the variation transition notification pattern is a table in which a lighting / light-off pattern is set for receiving the variation pattern data during the initial display control and notifying that the process has shifted to the symbol variation control.

Further, the display control CPU 401 sets a delay request flag for a predetermined period (step S76).
1) The driving of the drum motor is immediately turned off (step S762), and 2 ms for determining the activation interval of the display control.
The timer is initialized (step S763), and the routine goes to step S704 of the main process.

FIG. 47 shows the drum sensors 139A and 139.
It is a flowchart which shows the process when abnormality of B, 139C is detected. This process is executed when the drum sensor has not been turned on within a predetermined time. If the drum sensor is not turned on within a predetermined time, the rotating drum 1
22A to 122C, the drum motors 200A, 200B, and 200C are defective, and the drum sensors 139A, 139B, and 139C are defective. Therefore, the display control CPU 4
01 is assumed to detect an abnormality in such a case.

Accordingly, the display control CPU 401 sets an error flag (step S765). A test signal indicating an error is output to the outside of the gaming machine in accordance with the setting of the error flag. Also, while calling the command analysis processing, the motor control processing, and the drum ramp processing (step S766), the reception of the variation pattern command is checked (step S767). When a fluctuation pattern command is received, processing for shifting to normal variable display control is performed.

Therefore, when an abnormality is detected, the drum motor keeps rotating. Therefore, a game clerk or the like can immediately recognize that a drum sensor abnormality has occurred.

When the power supply to the gaming machine is started by the above-described initialization processing, the main board 331
Upon receiving the left and right middle symbol designating command and the confirmation command, the display control means executes control for displaying the symbol designated by the left and right middle symbol designating command as the initial symbol. When receiving the special symbol power failure recovery display command and the command to specify the left and right middle symbol, the display control means executes control for displaying the symbol specified by the command to specify the left and right middle symbol as an initial symbol. , The control for temporarily stopping (swinging) the symbol until the confirmation command is received. In this case, an error flag is set. Further, when the special symbol power-on display command is received, control for displaying a predetermined left and right middle symbol is performed. In this case, no error flag is set.

As described above, the special symbol power-on display command, the command for designating the middle left and right symbols and the confirmation command received from the main board 331 when the power is turned on, or the special symbol power failure restoration display command and the command for designating the middle left and right symbols By performing the initial symbol display control based on this, the initial display at the time of turning on the power is surely and quickly realized.

As described above, the game control means sends a special symbol power-on display command when the game state is not stored in the backup RAM. When the game state is stored in the backup RAM, but the stored game state indicates that the symbol is not fluctuating, each command is transmitted in the order of the command for designating the left and right middle symbols and the finalizing command. Further, when the game state stored in the backup RAM is a symbol change, each command is transmitted in the order of a special symbol power failure restoration display command and a command for designating a left and right middle symbol.
Note that the command for designating the middle left and right symbols transmitted when the game state stored in the backup RAM is changing symbols is the same as the command for designating the middle left and right symbols transmitted last before the power was turned off. It is.

Further, when the special symbol power failure restoration display command is received, the left and right middle symbols are temporarily stopped (swaying operation) at the stop symbol until the confirmation command is received. Therefore, the player can easily visually recognize that the power failure recovery processing is being performed. Also, if a special symbol power outage recovery display command is received, until the confirmation command is received,
The drum lamp turn-off request flag is set. Therefore, during that time, all the drum lamps 151A to 151C are turned off by the drum lamp processing. Therefore, also from this point, the player can easily visually recognize that the power failure recovery processing is being performed.

Also, when the special symbol power failure recovery display command is received, the time until the shaking operation stops is equivalent to the unexecuted variation time of the symbol variation that was being executed when the power was turned off. I do. The game control means sends the special symbol power failure restoration display command when the game state is stored in the backup RAM and the stored game state is changing symbols. The game control means performs a game state restoration process in the game state restoration process,
In the process, the unexecuted fluctuation time is also restored. Then, when the restored fluctuation time has elapsed, a command (fixing command in this example) for stopping the fluctuation of the symbol is transmitted to the display control means. The display control means swings the symbol until the command is received. Accordingly, when a time corresponding to the unexecuted fluctuation time of the symbol fluctuations being executed when the power is turned off elapses, the swing fluctuation ends.

However, when the variation time that has not been executed is relatively short, or when the variation time of a newly started symbol variation is short, etc., the drum motor is still rotating aiming at the stopped symbol. Sometimes a confirmation command is received. In this case, the reception of the confirmation command is confirmed after the timer for displaying the stop symbol has timed out (see step S745), so that the symbol fluctuates beyond the unexecuted fluctuation time. If a confirmation command is received while the drum motor is rotating, the direction in which the distance between the currently displayed symbol and the stop symbol is short should be selected as the rotation direction of the drum motor in order to display the stop symbol early. You may. That is, reversing the rotation of the motor may be permitted. Displaying the stop symbol means displaying the stop symbol in the middle of the left and right special symbol display area.

Also, when the symbol pattern display is being initialized and a fluctuation pattern command is received,
The display control means interrupts the initialization process and proceeds to step S70.
Move to 4. Since the processing after step S704 is the normal variable display control processing, the process immediately shifts to the normal variable display control processing when the fluctuation pattern command is received. As a result, execution of unnecessary initialization processing is suppressed, and game control can be speeded up.

FIG. 48 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a symbol data storage area in the display control means. In this example,
The command indicating the middle left and right symbols received from the main board 331 is stored in the symbol area this time. However, what is stored is EXT data (1 byte) of the 2-byte command. In this example, the content of the EXT data corresponds to the symbol number. Then, a valid flag indicating that the contents of the symbol area is valid this time is prepared. The contents of the symbol area this time, for example, when receiving a confirmation command,
It is copied to the symbol area last time. At that time, the valid flag is cleared. That is, the symbol area is initialized this time. The display control CPU 401 serves as a stop symbol for displaying each of the left and right symbols designated by the symbol number stored in the symbol data storage area in the middle of each of the left and right special symbol display areas on the variable display device 26. use. That is, the design specified by the design specification command is
It is displayed in the middle of each special symbol display area.

FIG. 49 shows a command analysis process (step S
705, S722, S726, S743, etc.). The display control command received from the main board 331 is stored in the received command buffer. In the command analysis processing, the contents of the command stored in the received command buffer are confirmed.

In the command analysis processing, the display control C
The PU 401 first checks whether a received command is stored in the command receiving buffer (Step S68).
1). Whether or not it is stored is determined by comparing the value of the command reception counter with the read pointer. The case where they match is the case where the received command is not stored. If the received command is stored in the command receiving buffer, the display control CPU 4
01 reads out the received command from the command receiving buffer (step S682). After reading, the value of the read pointer is incremented by one.

If the read received command is the left symbol designating command (step S683), the E of the command is read.
The XT data is stored in the left stop symbol storage area of the current storage area (step S684), and the corresponding valid flag is set (step S685). Whether or not the command is the left symbol designating command can be immediately recognized by the first byte (MODE data) of the 2-byte display control command.

If the read received command is a middle symbol designating command (step S686), the E
The XT data is stored in the middle stop symbol storage area for the current storage area (step S687), and the corresponding valid flag is set (step S688). If the read received command is the right symbol designating command (step S68)
9), the EXT data of the command is stored in the right stop symbol storage area of the current storage area (step S690),
The corresponding valid flag is set (step S69)
1).

If the read reception command is another display control command, a flag corresponding to the reception command is set (step S695).

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing the display control process (step S708) in the main process shown in FIG. In the display control process,
Step S800 according to the value of the display control process flag
To S804. In each process, the following processes are performed.

Variation pattern command reception waiting process (step S800): It is confirmed whether or not a display control command (variation pattern command) capable of specifying a variation time has been received by the command reception interrupt process. Specifically, it is determined whether or not a flag indicating that the variation pattern command has been received has been set. Such a flag is set when the received command stored in the received command buffer is a variable pattern command. All symbol variation start processing (step S801): Control is performed so that the variation of the left and right middle symbols is started.

Symbol change processing (step S802): The switching timing of each change state (change speed) constituting the change pattern is controlled, and the end of the change time is monitored. Also, stop control of the left and right symbols is performed.

All symbols stop wait setting processing (step S80)
3): At the end of the fluctuation time, if a display control command (confirmation command) for instructing stop of all the symbols has been received, the control for stopping the fluctuation of the symbols and displaying the stopped symbol (confirmed symbol) is performed.

Big hit display processing (step S804): After the end of the fluctuation time, the control of the positive variable big hit display or the normal big hit display is performed using the drum lamps 151A to 151C.

FIG. 51 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the relationship between the random number value and the drum lamp lighting pattern. In this embodiment, a plurality of drum lamp lighting patterns are prepared for each of the plurality of prepared fluctuation patterns. Then, the display control means extracts the random number and determines to use the drum lamp lighting pattern according to the extracted value during the symbol change. FIG. 51 shows variation pattern # 1
However, the relationship between the random number value and each drum lamp lighting pattern is prepared as a ROM table for all the variation patterns.

Although FIG. 51 shows a relatively simple drum lamp lighting pattern (only the lighting time and the lighting time), in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. A number of lunar lights as drum lamps are provided. Therefore, it is possible to enhance the gaming effect by making each drum lamp lighting pattern a more complicated pattern. In FIG. 51, one pattern is illustrated as each of the first to third patterns. However, since the drum lamps 151A to 151C are provided for each of the right and left middle drums, Another pattern may be used.

FIG. 52 is a flow chart showing a variation pattern command reception waiting process in the display control process process. The fluctuation pattern command reception waiting process display control CPU 401 checks whether a fluctuation pattern command has been received (step S811). If it has been received, the value of the display control process flag is set to a value corresponding to the all symbol variation start processing (step S812). Further, the valid flag in the present symbol area is reset (step S826). Here, the error flag is reset (step S827).

If a variation pattern command has not been received, it is checked whether a decision command has been received (step S813). When the confirmation command is received, the symbol number corresponding to the effective flag on among the left and right middle symbol numbers in the symbol area this time is loaded as the stop symbol number. In addition, for the left and right middle symbols for which the effective flag is not turned on, the symbol number stored in the previous symbol area is loaded as the stop symbol number. (Step S814). Then, when using the symbol number stored in the previous symbol area, a provisional symbol use flag is set (step S815). In addition, the provisional symbol use flag is prepared corresponding to each of the left and right middle symbols.

When the provisional symbol use flag is set, it is confirmed whether or not the combination of the symbols according to the loaded symbol number is a big hit (steps S816 and S8).
17). If it is a big hit combination, the symbol number of the symbol for which the provisional symbol use flag is set among the left and right middle symbols is incremented by 1, and the numerical value is set as the symbol number (step S818). By performing such control,
Even if the data of the previous symbol area (the stop symbol used in the previous fluctuation) is used tentatively, it is possible to prevent the combination of big hits.

For example, when the provisional design use flag is set corresponding to one of the left and right middle designs, the design number of the design with the provisional design use flag set is +.
Do one. When the provisional symbol use flag is set corresponding to the left and right symbols, the symbol number of the left symbol is incremented by one.
If the provisional symbol use flag is set corresponding to the middle left symbol, the symbol number of the left symbol is incremented by one. If the provisional symbol use flag is set corresponding to the middle right symbol, the symbol number of the right symbol is incremented by one. If the provisional symbol use flag is set corresponding to the middle left and right symbols,
The symbol number of the left symbol is incremented by one. Thus, the symbol whose symbol number is incremented by one is predetermined. However,
The above selection method is merely an example, and the symbol whose symbol number is +1 among the left and right middle symbols may be determined in any manner.

Next, the display control CPU 401 rotates the drum motor in a state in which the stop symbol is displayed in accordance with the difference between the data (symbol number) indicating the left and right middle stop symbols and the data indicating the currently displayed symbol data. Calculate the time until stopping. In order to display the stop symbol early, a direction in which the distance between the currently displayed symbol and the stop symbol is short is selected as the rotation direction of the drum motor (step S81).
9). Then, in order to notify the determined fluctuation direction to the motor control process, data designating the fluctuation direction is set in a predetermined data area (step S820), and the calculated time is set in the fluctuation timer (step S82).
1). Further, an error flag is set (step S8).
28). The fluctuating time timer set here is a timer for setting the respective fluctuating times in the left and right directions to make the display symbol a designated stop symbol. Therefore, the time is determined from the distance between the currently displayed symbol and the stopped symbol and the rotational speed of the drum motor. It is preferable that the time is shorter than the interval time when the symbol changes continuously (stop time = fixed command in game control means to change pattern command transmission for the next change). Therefore, when the rotation speed of the drum motor at that time is low, for example, the rotation speed is gradually increased and control is performed so as to rotate at the maximum speed. In this embodiment, for example, even when the distance between the currently displayed symbol and the stop symbol is the maximum, the drum motors 200A, 200B, 200C have such a performance that the stop symbol can be displayed within the above-mentioned stop time.
Is used. When determining the direction of change (step S819), if the distance between the currently displayed symbol and the stopped symbol is the same in any direction, the predetermined direction is set as the direction of change. The predetermined direction is, for example, a normal rotation direction (a direction in which the symbol fluctuates from top to bottom). If the currently displayed symbol and the stopped symbol are the same among the left and right middle symbols, 0 is set to the fluctuation timer relating to the symbol. That is, no fluctuation is performed for such a symbol. In addition, for the symbols for which the provisional use flag is set among the left and right middle symbols, 0 may be set to the fluctuation timer. That is, the symbols for which the symbol designation command has not been received among the left and right middle symbols may not be changed.

If a fixed command is received without receiving a fluctuation pattern command, an error flag is set (step S828). When the error flag is set, a test signal indicating an error is output as described later. Therefore, the occurrence of the error can be easily observed outside the gaming machine. When the power is turned on, no error is detected even if the fluctuation pattern command is not received (step S723). This is because, as already described, when the power is turned on, the game control means sends the determination command without sending the variation pattern command.

Next, the contents of the current symbol area are copied to the previous symbol area (step S822), and the valid flag is reset (step S823). In addition, the driving of the drum motor is started (step S824), and the value of the display control process flag is set to a value corresponding to the all symbol stop waiting process (step S825).

As a case where the fixed command is received without receiving the variation pattern command, for example, there is a case where the variation pattern command cannot be received for some reason.
Even in such a case, as described above, the display control means can perform the fluctuation control of the symbol so that the stopped symbol is displayed.

If the command indicating the stop symbol is not received, the stop symbol used in the previous symbol change is used. Therefore, even when the display control command indicating the stop symbol is not received, the symbol variation control is not interrupted or stopped.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing the whole symbol change start process in the display control process process. In the all symbol change start process, the display control CPU 401
First, it is determined whether or not a delay is being performed for a predetermined period (step S830). If it is not in operation, it is checked whether there is a delay request for a predetermined period (step S831). The predetermined period delay request is set in step S761 in the initialization process, that is, when a variation pattern command is received during the symbol display initialization process.

If there is a delay request for a predetermined period, a delay timer for performing a delay operation for a predetermined period is set (step S832). By such a process, when the variation pattern command is received during the symbol display initialization process, the driving of the drum motor is stopped for a predetermined period, and the variation of the symbol is interrupted. During this time, a fluctuation transition notification pattern is used as the drum lamp lighting pattern. Therefore, the player can easily recognize that the normal symbol change has been performed during the initialization process. Further, as described later, after the fluctuation (rotation) is actually started, a lamp lighting pattern corresponding to the fluctuation pattern is used. That is, at that stage, the lamp lighting pattern is changed. Therefore, the player can easily recognize that the process has shifted to the actual symbol change (not the initialization process).

[0290] When the variation pattern command is received during the initialization process, the game ball wins in the start winning port 48 when the display control means is performing the initialization process, and the start condition is satisfied. Otherwise, when the game state stored in the backup RAM is restored, the starting storage number is 0.
Sometimes it wasn't. When the start condition is satisfied or the number of stored memories is not 0, the game control means immediately sends a change pattern command to start the symbol change, but the display control means performs an initialization process. When the fluctuation pattern command is received during the game, it is configured to shift to the normal symbol fluctuation immediately, so that no disadvantage is given to the player.

If there is no delay request for a predetermined period, or if the delay has ended for a predetermined period, the display control CPU 401 extracts a random number and determines a lamp lighting pattern in accordance with the extracted value (step 401). S834),
It is determined that the table in which the determined pattern is set is used as the lighting pattern table (step S835).

Next, a symbol designation command waiting timer (in this example, 0.5 seconds) is set (step S836), the driving of the drum motor is started (step S837), and the value of the display control process flag is changed during symbol variation. A value corresponding to the process is set (step S838).

FIG. 54 is a flow chart showing the symbol change process in the display control process process. In the symbol change processing, the display control CPU 401 first checks whether or not the time of 0.5 seconds set in step S836 has elapsed (step S840). If it has elapsed, the flow shifts to step S873. If not after
It is determined whether or not the timer set in step S836 has timed out (step S841). If a timeout has occurred, a stop symbol determination process is performed as follows. Note that the value of 0.5 seconds in this embodiment is an example, and a different value is used depending on a difference in the structure of the gaming machine or the like.

That is, if the valid flag for the left symbol in the current symbol area is in the ON state (step S8)
42), the symbol number stored in the left stop symbol storage area of the current symbol area is loaded as the symbol number of the left stop symbol (step S843). If the valid flag for the left symbol is not on, the symbol number stored in the left stop symbol storage area of the previous symbol area is loaded as the symbol number of the left stop symbol (step S844), and the provisional symbol use flag is set. (Step S845).

If the effective flag for the middle symbol in the current symbol area is in the ON state (step S84)
6) The symbol number stored in the middle stop symbol storage area of the present symbol area is loaded as the symbol number of the middle stop symbol (step S847). If the valid flag relating to the middle symbol is not in the ON state, the symbol number stored in the middle symbol storage area of the previous symbol area is loaded as the symbol number of the middle symbol (step S848), and the provisional symbol use flag is set. (Step S849).

If the valid flag for the right symbol in the current symbol area is on (step S85)
0), the symbol number stored in the right stop symbol storage area of the current symbol area is loaded as the symbol number of the right stop symbol (step S851). If the valid flag for the right symbol is not in the ON state, the symbol number stored in the right stop symbol storage area of the previous symbol area is loaded as the symbol number of the right symbol (step S852), and the provisional symbol use flag is set. (Step S853).

According to the above-described processing, the received symbol designating command is checked when, for example, 0.5 seconds have elapsed after the reception of the variation pattern command. Since the command to specify the left and right middle stop symbols is output following the fluctuation pattern command, generally, when 0.5 seconds have elapsed, the command to specify the right and left middle stop symbols has already been received, and The corresponding symbol number is set in the symbol area this time. Then, instead of immediately checking when the command to specify the left and right middle design is received, they are checked after a certain time after reception. It may be. For example, even if a symbol designating command is received in the order of middle → left → right, step S84
By the processing of 1 to S853, the right and left stopped symbols are recognized by the display control means without any problem.

[0298] After 0.5 seconds, if there is a stop symbol designating command which has not been received among the left and right stop symbols, the stop symbol used in the previous fluctuation is used. Therefore, even if the command designating the stop symbol is not received for some reason, the symbol variation control is continued.

Then, when the provisional symbol use flag is set, it is confirmed whether or not the combination of each symbol by the loaded symbol number is a big hit (step S86).
1, S862). If the combination is a big hit, the symbol number of the symbol for which the provisional symbol use flag is set among the left and right middle symbols is incremented by 1, and the numerical value is set as the symbol number (step S863). The display control CPU 4
01 sets the drum motor drive time corresponding to the variation time according to the variation pattern (step S864). Here, after the delay operation is performed for a predetermined time, the drum motor driving time is set by subtracting the time.

With the above processing, if the symbol designating command is not received within a predetermined period (0.5 seconds in this example) after receiving the fluctuation pattern command, the display control means does not receive it. For the symbol (one or more of the left and right middle symbols) corresponding to the symbol designation command, as a predetermined control, a stop in which a previously received symbol designation command and a symbol corresponding to the latest symbol designation command are designated. Regarding the symbol which has received the symbol designating command as a symbol, the control specified by the command is set as the stop symbol. In addition, the fluctuation control is performed using those symbols as stop symbols.

Therefore, when the fluctuation time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S843 or S845, S847 or S84.
8, and the symbols loaded in S851 or S852 are displayed on the variable display device 26.
Therefore, when the symbol designating command is not received within a predetermined period from the reception of the variation pattern command by the above processing, at the end of the variation, the symbol (the left and right middle symbol) corresponding to the symbol design command which was not received. (One or more of the symbols), the symbol (the symbol used in the previous change) corresponding to the most recently received symbol designating command is displayed on the variable display device 26 as a stopped symbol. For the symbol which has received the symbol designating command, the symbol designated by the command is displayed on the variable display device 26 as a stopped symbol.

Note that the fluctuation speed (motor rotation speed) is not always constant during the fluctuation time according to one fluctuation pattern. In one fluctuation pattern, there may be a low-speed fluctuation, a medium-speed fluctuation, a high-speed fluctuation, and the like. The motor drive time set in step S836 is the time of the entire period, but in reality, the display control CPU 401
It is necessary to recognize each period of each fluctuation speed. Then, in the symbol change processing of the display control process processing,
At the time of the change of the changing speed, the motor control process is notified of the changed speed. In the motor control processing, the motor rotation speed is adjusted to the fluctuation speed by adjusting, for example, the excitation pattern output interval according to the notified fluctuation speed.

In general, it is necessary to adjust the length of the fluctuation period at each speed so that the determined left and right stop symbols become final stop symbols. In order to realize such adjustment control, an instruction may be given to the motor control process to adjust the switching point of the changing speed. In that case, it is preferable to adjust the length of the high-speed fluctuation period to thereby adjust the length of the fluctuation period. Also, in the case where the drum motor drive time is set by subtracting the delay time in step S864, it is preferable to realize the subtraction processing by shortening the length of the high-speed fluctuation period.

Next, the display control CPU 401 sets the variable time timer (step S865), and waits for the reception of the fixed command and the timeout of the variable time timer (steps S875 and S873). When the confirmation command is received, it is checked whether the provisional symbol use flag is turned on (step S876). If it is turned on, it is checked whether all the valid flags are turned on (for the left and right sides) (step S877). If all the valid flags are on, the provisional symbol use flag is turned off (step S878), and the same processing as steps S867 to S869 is performed. The fact that the provisional symbol use flag is ON means that the symbol designating command has not been received at the time when 0.5 seconds have elapsed from the start of the change. In that state, all the valid flags are on,
It means that the symbol designating command was received before the confirmation command was received. Therefore, in such a case, the control for displaying the stop symbol is performed based on the received symbol designation command instead of the provisional symbol. Then, in this embodiment, by executing the processing of steps S867 to S869, it is possible to display the stop symbol early. When the confirmation command is received (step S875), and the provisional symbol use flag is not turned on, or when all the valid flags are not turned on even if it is turned on, the reception timing of the confirmation command is shorter than the predetermined timing. It is checked whether it is early (step S866). The predetermined timing is, for example, a time when the fluctuation time timer times out, or a time point slightly earlier than the time when the fluctuation period timer times out.

Even if not all of the valid flags are turned on in step S877, the flag is not turned on when a predetermined period (0.5 seconds in this example) elapses from the start of fluctuation, and is turned on when a fixed command is received. If there is, the processing after step S878 may be performed. Even if the symbol used in the previous variation is regarded as a stopped symbol and the variation control is performed by the processing after step S876, the symbol designation command is received after the predetermined period elapses and before the finalization command is received. For the symbol that is present, control is performed so that the symbol specified by the command is a stopped symbol. For the symbols for which the symbol designating command has not been received before the confirmation command is received, the stop symbol used in the previous change is set as the stop symbol in the current change.

Also, since the stop timing of the middle left and right symbols is usually different, in practice, the variation time timer is a timer for measuring the variation time corresponding to the last one of the middle left and right symbols to stop. is there. For example, assuming that the middle symbol is the symbol that stops last, the stop timing of the left symbol and the right symbol is determined according to the variation pattern.
In the symbol change processing during the display control process, the display control CPU 401 controls the drum motor 200A to stop when the left symbol stop timing comes, and the drum motor 200C when the right symbol stop timing comes. Is controlled to be stopped.

[0307] If the confirmation command reception timing is earlier than the predetermined timing, control is performed such that the display symbol is set to the stop symbol (the symbol set in the symbol area this time) earlier. That is, in order to display the stop symbol early, a direction in which the distance between the currently displayed symbol and the stop symbol is short is selected as the rotation direction of the drum motor (step S867). However, in consideration of the characteristics and the like of the drum motor, the same rotation direction as the rotation direction at that time may be determined as the rotation direction of the drum motor. Then, in order to notify the determined fluctuation direction to the motor control process, data designating the fluctuation direction is set in a predetermined data area (step S868), and the calculated time is set in a fluctuation time timer (step S869). The stop symbol in step S867 is the symbol used in the previous change when the provisional symbol use flag is on.

[0308] The variable time timer set here is a timer for setting a variable time for changing the displayed symbol to a designated stop symbol. Therefore, the time is determined from the distance between the currently displayed symbol and the stopped symbol and the rotational speed of the drum motor. In addition, it is preferable that the time is shorter than the interval time (stop time) when the symbol changes continuously. Therefore, when the rotation speed of the drum motor at that time is low, for example, control is performed so that the rotation speed is gradually increased to rotate at the maximum speed. When determining the change direction (step S867), if the distance between the currently displayed symbol and the stop symbol is the same in any direction,
The direction determined in advance is a change direction. The predetermined direction is, for example, a normal rotation direction (a direction in which the symbol fluctuates from top to bottom). Also, among the left and right middle designs,
If the currently displayed symbol and the stopped symbol are the same,
The variable timer for the symbol is set to 0. That is, no fluctuation is performed for such a symbol. Also,
For the symbols for which the provisional use flag is set among the left and right middle symbols, 0 may be set to the fluctuation timer. That is, the symbols for which the symbol designation command has not been received among the left and right middle symbols may not be changed.

[0309] Since the receipt of the confirmation command is confirmed, the contents of the current symbol area are copied to the previous symbol area (step S870), and the valid flag is reset (step S871). Further, the value of the display control process flag is set to a value according to the all symbol stop waiting process (step S872).

If the variable time timer times out while waiting for the reception of the fixed command and the timeout of the variable time timer, the display control CPU 401 sets a fixed command non-reception flag (step S874).
The value of the display control process flag is set to a value according to the all symbol stop waiting process (step S872).

FIG. 56 is a flow chart showing the all symbol stop waiting process in the display control process process. In the all symbol stop waiting process, the display control CPU 401
It is confirmed whether or not it is in the state of waiting for the confirmation command (step S881). The state of waiting for confirmation command reception
This is a state after steps S891 to S893 to be described later have been executed. If you are not waiting for the confirmation command,
It is checked whether the confirmed command non-reception flag is set (step S882). If it is not set, it is checked whether any one or more of the provisional symbol use flags corresponding to the left and right middle symbols are set (step S883). The provisional symbol use flag being set means that the data of the symbol area was used last time.

[0312] Therefore, in order to notify this, a lamp extinguishing flag is set for the drum lamp corresponding to the set provisional symbol use flag (step S884). In addition, instead of the drum lamp turning off request,
A request may be made for the drum lamp to blink, turn on, or turn off in a lighting pattern. However, such a pattern is different from a lighting pattern used at the time of a normal symbol change. That is, a lighting pattern that can specify a drum corresponding to a symbol for which a symbol stop command has not been received among the left and right middle symbols is used. In addition, lighting or turning off only white Luna light,
Alternatively, only the red lunar light may be targeted.

When the fluctuation time timer times out (step S885), the driving of the drum motor is stopped (step S886), and the value of the display control process flag is set to a value corresponding to the fluctuation pattern command reception waiting processing (step S887). ).

If it is determined in step S882 that the confirmed command non-reception flag is on,
When the provisional symbol use flag is set, the display control CPU 401 sets the corresponding drum lamp swinging operation instruction flag (step S893). Then, the internal state is changed to a state of waiting for a fixed command.

In this state, if it is confirmed that the confirmation command has been received (step S894), the driving of the drum motor is stopped (step S886), and the value of the display control process flag is set to a value corresponding to the fluctuation pattern command reception waiting process. (Step S887).

FIG. 57 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a lamp control table in which drum lamp lighting patterns are set. Here, a relatively simple drum lamp lighting pattern (only the lighting time and the turning-off time) is shown. However, as illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 39, a large number of lunar lights as drum lamps are provided for each drum. I have. Therefore,
By setting each drum lamp lighting pattern as a more complicated pattern, a gaming effect can be enhanced. Further, since the drum lamps 151A to 151C are provided for each of the right and left drums, different patterns may be used for each drum. In the example shown in FIG. 57, FF (H) indicates an end code.

FIG. 58 is a flowchart showing an example of the drum ramp process. In the drum lamp process, the display control CPU 401 first checks whether a lamp extinguishing request has been set (step S901). If it is set, the drum lamp is turned off (step S902). When a request is made to turn on / off or turn off the drum lamp in a predetermined lighting pattern in place of the request for turning off the drum lamp, it is determined in advance according to the pattern. Set the lamp lighting table to be used as the lamp control table.

If the lamp extinguishing request is not set, control is performed according to the setting data of the lamp control table. Which lamp control table to use depends on
It is specified in the display control process. First, the display control CPU 401 checks whether or not the lamp timer is operating (step S904). If in operation,
It is checked whether the lamp timer has timed out (step S905). If the timeout has occurred, the value of the pointer indicating the data in the ramp control table is incremented by 1 (step S906).

Then, the data of the ramp control table pointed by the pointer is loaded (step S907). If the loaded data is an end code (step S908),
The value of the pointer is returned to 0 (step S909). If the loaded data is not the end code, the loaded data is set in the ramp timer (step S910), and the value of the pointer is incremented by one (step S911). Then, load the data of the lamp control table pointed by the pointer,
The drum lamp is turned on or off according to the loaded data (step S912).

FIG. 59 shows the display control board 1 shown in FIG.
65 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a test signal output circuit 220 in FIG. The test signal output circuit 220 includes a plurality of I / O expanders. As shown in FIG. 59, in this example, two I / O expanders 120
A, 120B are mounted. The I / O expander is an output port IC having a plurality of I / O ports.

FIG. 60 is a block diagram showing an example of an I / O expander that can be used in this embodiment. The I / O expander shown in FIG.
It has output ports 0 to 3 having three output bits. Each bit of output port 0 is set to P00-P0
7. Each bit of the output port 1 is P10 to P17, each bit of the output port 2 is P20 to P27, and each bit of the output port 3 is P30 to P37.

The I / O expander resets (RES
ET) input terminal, and when a low level is input to the reset input terminal, all outputs (P00 to P07, P10
To P17, P20 to P27, and P30 to P37) are set to low level. The address decoder is provided with a display control C
Output port 0 according to an address signal (A0 to A7) from PU 401 and an address set signal (CSIO)
To generate a signal for selecting the output port 3. For example, when it is desired to set the bit of the output port 0 to a high level, the display control CPU 401 outputs an address signal designating the address assigned to the output port 0, and outputs the data in which the corresponding bit is set to “1”. Output to the data bus. Also, C which is low active
WR is set to low level and SIO is set to low active.
The signal goes low.

Note that the I / O expander has a chip select function for an external expansion device. That is, when an address signal for the external extension device is input from the display control CPU 401, the address decoder sets the corresponding chip select signals CE0 to CE7 to low level. Therefore, when an I / O port IC is added, an additional IC can be easily selected (chip select).

FIGS. 61 to 66 are explanatory diagrams showing an example of the test signal terminals 221 to 226 on the display control board 165 shown in FIG. In this example, the test signal terminal 22
1 to 226 are each realized by a 68-pin connector.

Test signal terminal 221 and test signal terminal 2
Reference numeral 22 denotes a connector for outputting a test signal for a normal symbol. In the test signal terminal 221, the first pin is connected to P3 of the output port 3 of the I / O expander 220A.
From 0, a test signal is output. This test signal is usually a signal during symbol fluctuation. The 5th pin has an I / O expander 2
A test signal is output from P31 of the output port 3 of 20A. This test signal is usually a symbol confirmation signal. The ninth pin is connected to P3 of the output port 3 of the I / O expander 220A.
2 outputs a test signal. This test signal is a symbol display (normal symbol display) error signal. Seventeenth and eighteenth
Test signals are output to the pins from P33 and P34 of the output port 3 of the I / O expander 220A. These test signals are usually the first and second digit changing signals of the symbol.

In the test signal terminal 222, the first pin is connected to P35 of the output port 3 of the I / O expander 220A.
Outputs a test signal. This test signal is a symbol data signal of the first digit of the symbol. A test signal is output to the fifth pin from P36 of the output port 3 of the I / O expander 220A. This test signal is a symbol data signal of the second digit of the ordinary symbol.

Test signal terminal 223 and test signal terminal 2
Reference numeral 24 denotes a connector for outputting a test signal relating to a special symbol. In the test signal terminal 223, the first pin is connected to P0 of the output port 0 of the I / O expander 220A.
6 outputs a test signal. This test signal is a special symbol changing signal. The 5th pin has an I / O expander 2
A test signal is output from P07 of output port 0 of 20A. This test signal is a special symbol confirmation signal. The ninth pin is connected to P1 of the output port 1 of the I / O expander 220A.
6 outputs a test signal. This test signal is a variable display device error signal. Pins 17, 18, and 19 have I
P17, P of output port 1 of I / O expander 220A
Test signals are output from P26 and P27. These test signals are the changing signals of the first digit, the second digit and the third digit of the special symbol.

In the test signal terminal 224, the first to fifth
Test signals are output to the pins from P00 to P04 of the output port 0 of the I / O expander 220A. These test signals are data signals indicating the symbol type of the first digit of the special symbol. The ninth to thirteenth pins have an I / O expander 22
A test signal is output from P10 to P14 of the output port 1 of 0A. These test signals are data signals indicating the symbol type of the second digit of the special symbol. The 17th to 21st pins are connected to P20 to P20 of the output port 2 of the I / O expander 220A.
A test signal is output from P24. These test signals are data signals indicating the symbol type of the third digit of the special symbol.

Test signal terminal 225 and test signal terminal 2
Reference numeral 26 denotes a connector for outputting a test signal relating to the probability change notification. The test signal relating to the probability change notification is used in a gaming machine having a function of performing an effect for determining whether or not to shift the gaming state to the probability change state by some means (for example, effect by image display) (hereinafter, referred to as a probability change notification effect). Can be In the test signal terminal 225, the first pin is connected to P0 of the output port 0 of the I / O expander 220B.
From 0, a test signal is output. This test signal is a signal indicating that the notification means is changing, that is, a test signal indicating that a certainty change notification effect is being performed. A test signal is output to the fifth pin from P02 of the output port 0 of the I / O expander 220B. This test signal is a signal for notifying the notifying means, that is, a test signal indicating that a symbol for determining whether or not the probable change notification effect has been completed and whether or not to make a probable change is displayed. Thirteenth
A test signal is output to the pin from P04 of the output port 0 of the I / O expander 220B. This test signal is a special symbol probability change right signal, that is, a test signal indicating that the probable change is being performed. The 17th and 18th pins are connected to P05 and P06 of the output port 0 of the I / O expander 220B as a spare.

At test signal terminal 226, first to fourth
Test signals are output to the pins from P10 to P13 of the output port 1 of the I / O expander 220B. These test signals are test means data signals, that is, test signals indicating symbols as a result of the probable change notification effect. The ninth pin to the first pin
Pin 2 is connected to P14 to P17 of output port 1 of I / O expander 220B as a spare.

As described above, in this embodiment, the output port IC (I / O expander) is used to output a test signal from the signal generation means for generating a test signal. Since the I / O expander has a plurality of built-in I / O ports, the size of the test signal output circuit 220 that outputs the test signals does not increase even if there are many test signals. The I / O expander is an LSI, and its size is small. Then, even if a large number of test signals can be output, the substrate size does not increase so much and the cost does not increase much.

FIG. 67 is a flowchart showing an example of the test signal output process (step S709 in the main process shown in FIG. 40) of the display control CPU 401. Here, a case where a test signal relating to a special symbol is created will be described as an example. The display control CPU 401 confirms whether or not information on the start of change (a change pattern command in this embodiment) has been received from the game control means (step S40)
1). If it has been received, after a delay time of 2 ms (step S402), the special symbol changing signal is set to a high level (on state) (step S403). Actually, during the 2 ms delay processing, the process temporarily exits the test signal output processing.

If information on the left and right fixed symbol (in this embodiment, a left and right symbol designating command) has been received from the game control means (steps S404, S40)
6, S408) The first digit, the second digit or the third digit of the symbol data is output (steps S405, S407, S40).
9).

Also, it is confirmed whether or not information on the fluctuation stop (in this embodiment, a special symbol stop command, that is, a decision command) has been received from the game control means (step S411). If the signal has been received, after a delay time of 2 ms (step S412), the special symbol changing signal is set to the low level (off state) (step S413).
At the same time, the special symbol determination signal is set to the high level (step S414).

Further, it is confirmed whether or not information for canceling symbol determination is received from the game control means (step S41).
5). If it has been received, the special symbol determination signal is set to low level (step S416). Although not described in detail in the above embodiment, the reception of the information for canceling the symbol determination is equivalent to the reception of the jackpot display start command (see FIG. 23).

It is checked whether an error flag relating to the variable display device has been set (step S417).
If it is set, the variable display device error signal is set to high level (step S418). Then, it is determined whether or not the error flag relating to the variable display device has been reset (step S419). If reset, the variable display device error signal is set to low level (step S4).
20).

The error flag for the variable display device is set in steps S723 and S828. Also, it is reset in step S827 (when a fluctuation pattern command is received). Therefore, in this embodiment, an error flag is set when the drum sensor has not been turned on, or when a determination command has been received without receiving variation pattern data (except when the power is turned on). Here, the error flag and the error signal may be different depending on whether the drum sensor is not turned on or when the fluctuation pattern data is not received.

Although an example of the test signal output control for the special symbol has been described here, the test signal for the ordinary symbol is also output to the outside of the gaming machine in the test signal output process (step S709).

In the above embodiment, the case where the variable display device 26 is realized by a drum mechanism is described as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to a case where the variable display device 26 is realized by another rotating mechanism such as a belt. Can be applied. In the above embodiment, the main board 331 and the display control board 165 are provided separately. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where they are one board.

Also, in the above-described embodiment, the gaming machine in which the variable display device 26 variably displays symbols by rotating the drum has been exemplified, but among the control methods in the above-described embodiment, the variable display device includes the variable display device. Some of them can be applied to gaming machines realized by CRTs and LCDs. For example, when the game control means does not store the game state in the backup RAM, or when the stored game state indicates that the symbol is not changing, the command for specifying the left and right middle symbols and the confirmation Sending the command to the display control means can be applied to a game machine in which the variable display device is realized by a CRT or an LCD. Further, when the game state stored in the backup RAM is a symbol change, a special symbol power failure recovery display command and a command for designating a middle left and right symbol are sent to the display control means. Also, the present invention can be applied to a gaming machine realized by an LCD or an LCD.

Further, the display control means can use the data of the previous symbol area for the lost symbol designation command using the current symbol area and the previous symbol area, and the variable display device is realized by a CRT or an LCD. Applicable to gaming machines. Also, the variable display device controls the copying of data between the two areas and the control for preventing the occurrence of a big hit when the data of the previous symbol area is used.
It can be applied to gaming machines realized on CDs,
A predetermined period after receiving the fluctuation pattern (0.5 seconds in the above example)
When the time has elapsed, the valid flag of the current symbol area is checked, and the data of the previous symbol area can be used for the lost symbol designating command.
It can be applied to gaming machines realized by T and LCD.

As described above, in the above embodiment, when the game state is not stored in the backup RAM of the game control means, the game control means sends a power-on display command to the display control means. , Backup RA
If the game state is stored in M and the game state indicates that the symbol is not changing, the game control means sends a command for designating the left and right middle symbols and a confirmation command to the display control means. The control means can reliably display the initial symbol on the variable display device 26 when the power is turned on.

[0343] Also, the game control means is provided with a backup RA
When the game state stored in M is changing symbols, a special symbol power failure recovery display command and a command for designating left and right middle symbols are sent to the display control means. The control means includes the variable display device 2
6 can reliably display the initial symbol.

Further, when a variation pattern command is received while performing control for displaying an initial symbol,
Since the display control means immediately shifts to the normal variable display control state, useless initial display control is not executed, and a disadvantage is prevented from being given to the player. Further, in the display control means, control is performed regardless of the order in which the display control commands indicating the left and right middle symbols are stopped, so that the display control command transmission control of the game control means can have flexibility. In addition, the display control command transmission control can be simplified.

When the variation pattern command is received, the symbol variation in the variable display device 26 is immediately stopped, and a temporary stop period is provided before the variation according to the received variation pattern is started. Further, the suspension period is always constant. Therefore, the processing is speeded up, and the operation is stabilized by the suspension period. Furthermore, since the drum lamp notifies that the process has shifted from the initial display process to the normal variation pattern, the player can easily recognize that.

In the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to each of the above-described embodiments, the predetermined game value is reduced when the special symbols variably displayed on the variable display device 26 on the basis of the start winning prize become a predetermined symbol combination. Although it was a first-class pachinko gaming machine that can be given to a player, a predetermined game value that can be given to a player when there is a prize in a predetermined area of an electric accessory that is opened based on a start winning prize. A predetermined right is generated or continued when there is a prize for a predetermined pachinko gaming machine or a predetermined electric accessory which is opened when a stop symbol of a symbol variably displayed based on a start winning prize is a predetermined symbol combination. The present invention can be applied to three types of pachinko gaming machines. Further, the present invention is not limited to pachinko gaming machines, but can be applied to slot machines and the like.

[0347]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the initial operation performed when the power supply is started by the error output means, the game machine can be controlled even if the display control means does not receive the variable display command. When the condition of (1) is satisfied, the error signal is not output, and after the initial operation, the display control means outputs the error signal when the variable display command is not received. Even when the command configuration is different from the variable display operation, the output of the error signal relating to the command reception abnormality at the time of performing the initial operation is regulated, and as a result, the effect that erroneous notification is made is reduced. is there.

If the error signal is configured to be output to the outside of the gaming machine, the occurrence of the error can be easily detected by a test device or the like outside the gaming machine.

In the case where the error output means is a port IC having a plurality of output ports, it is possible to prevent a board on which the error output means is mounted from being enlarged, and to perform a test relating to a game control operation more efficiently. Can be realized at low cost.

In the case where the game control means has a memory holding means capable of holding the storage contents which fluctuate in accordance with the progress of the game even when the power supply to the game machine is stopped, the storage is started when the power supply starts. Various commands may be transmitted depending on the storage state of the contents, and control of not outputting an error signal when a predetermined condition is satisfied is more effective.

If the memory holding means in the game control means does not hold the memory contents before the stop of the power supply when the power supply to the gaming machine is started, a predetermined condition is satisfied and the output of the error signal is performed. In the case of not performing the command, a command different from the command related to the normal variable display operation is transmitted when the storage holding unit does not hold the storage content before the power supply is stopped. However, no error signal is output.

When the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the memory holding means in the game control means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped, and when the power supply was stopped, the variable display device was used. If the predetermined condition is satisfied when the variable display is performed and the error signal is not output, the variable display before the power supply is stopped is performed based on the contents stored in the storage unit. When the state is restored, no error signal is output even if a command different from the command relating to the normal variable display operation is sent.

When the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the memory holding means in the game control means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped. If the predetermined condition is not satisfied when the variable display is not performed and the error output means is configured to output an error signal, even when the power supply is started, the memory holding means may be used. For example, when the stop identification information is reproduced on the basis of the stored contents of the above, an error signal can be output.

The game control means displays an initial symbol on the variable display device when the memory holding means in the game control means does not hold the memory content before the power supply is stopped when the power supply to the gaming machine is started. When the display control means is configured to send a power-on display command to the display control means, the display control means initializes predetermined identification information by receiving only the power-on display command. Control for displaying as display identification information can be performed.

When the predetermined condition is satisfied when the display control means receives the power-on display command and the error output means does not output the error signal, the game is started when the power supply is started. Even when the control means sends a command related to the initial display different from that at the start of the variable display, no error signal is output.

When the game control means starts the power supply to the gaming machine, the storage holding means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped, and the variable display device is used when the power supply is stopped. If the variable display was performed in
When the variable display device is configured to send a restoration command indicating restoration to the display state before the power supply is stopped and the identification information designation command to the display control unit, the display control unit receives the restoration command. By doing so, it is possible to control to display the identification information specified by the identification information specifying command as the initial display.

If the predetermined condition is satisfied when the display control means receives the restoration command and the error output means does not output the error signal, the game control means at the start of power supply. Does not output an error signal even if the command sends a command related to restoration different from that at the start of variable display.

[0358] The game control means is configured to execute the variable display device when the power supply to the gaming machine is started and the storage holding means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped and the power supply was stopped. When the variable display is not performed in the step (a), if the identification information designation command and the determination command indicating the end of the variable display are sent to the display control means, the display control means By receiving the command, it is possible to control to display the identification information specified by the identification information specification command as an initial display.

If the error output means has not received another command before the display control means has received the identification information designation command, the predetermined condition is not satisfied and an error signal is output. In this case, even when the power supply is started, an error signal can be output when an identification information designation command is received without receiving a command related to the start of variable display.

When the display control means receives the restoration command after the power supply is started, the display control means causes the variable display device to perform variable display until the identification information is displayed, and thereafter, until the confirmation command is received. In the case where control is performed to temporarily stop the identification information, it is possible to cause a situation where a gaming clerk or a player can easily recognize that the gaming machine is in the power recovery state.

In the case where the display control means is configured such that the notifying means notifies the user that the recovery operation is being performed in response to the variable display of the identification information performed in response to the reception of the recovery command, The player can easily recognize that the recovery operation is being performed.

When the game control means has a command storage area in the form of a ring buffer capable of storing a plurality of commands, and is configured to read commands from the command storage area and send them to the display control means. Thus, the command signal transmission control burden on the game control means can be reduced, and even if the command transmission processing of the game control means is delayed, a command can be reliably transmitted to the display control means.

The display control means has a received command storage area in a ring buffer format capable of storing the received command, stores the received command in the received command storage area, and reads out the received command from the received command storage area. When the display control is performed based on the command, even if the command read processing from the received command storage area is delayed, the received command storage area is not overwritten by the newly received command. The command from the game control means does not disappear.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the gaming board of the pachinko gaming machine as viewed from the front.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a power supply board.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration on a main board.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a display control circuit.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration example of a variable display device driving unit of the variable display device.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a variable display device driving unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a display control board.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration around a CPU on a main board.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a main process executed by a CPU on a main board.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a relationship between a backup flag and whether or not to execute a game state restoration process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a 2 ms timer interrupt process.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing each random number.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a left and right middle symbol.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a special symbol process process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining that a hit ball has won a start winning opening.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a process of determining a stop symbol for variable display and a process of determining a variation pattern.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a jackpot determination process.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing signal lines of a display control command.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a command form of a control command.

FIG. 22 is a timing chart showing the relationship between an 8-bit control signal constituting a control command and an INT signal.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content of a display control command.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a command transmission table.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of a display command control process.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a command transmission routine.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a display control command sending portion in the sub-board initialization processing of the main processing.

FIG. 28 is a timing chart showing an example of sending a display control command relating to a special symbol sent from the main board to the display control board at the start of power supply.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a power supply stop time process.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a power supply stop time process.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a game state restoration process.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing an example of a display control command sending process in the control command sending process of the game state restoring process.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an example of a display control command sending process in the control command sending process of the game state restoring process.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing an example of a display control command sending process in the control command sending process of the game state restoring process.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing an example of a display control command sending process in the control command sending process of the game state restoring process.

FIG. 36 is a timing chart showing a transmission example of a display control command relating to a special symbol transmitted from the main board to the display control board when the gaming state is stored in the backup RAM and the special symbol is being changed at the time of the previous power-off. FIG.

FIG. 37 is a timing chart showing a transmission example of a display control command relating to a special symbol transmitted from the main board to the display control board when the gaming state is stored in the backup RAM and the special symbol is not changing when the power is last turned off. FIG.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a portion related to driving of a drum motor on a display control board.

FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a portion related to driving of a drum lamp on the display control board.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a main process executed by the display control CPU.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process.

FIG. 42 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a command receiving buffer in the payout control means.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing a command reception interrupt process.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing an initialization process executed by the display control CPU.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing an initialization process executed by the display control CPU.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart showing an initialization process executed by the display control CPU.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing an initialization process executed by the display control CPU.

FIG. 48 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a symbol data storage area in the display control means.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart showing a command analysis process.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing a display control process.

FIG. 51 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a relationship between a random number value and a drum lamp lighting pattern.

FIG. 52 is a flowchart showing a fluctuation pattern command reception waiting process of the display control process process.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing an entire symbol change start process of the display control process process.

FIG. 54 is a flowchart showing a symbol change process of the display control process process.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart showing a symbol change process of the display control process process.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart showing an all symbol stop waiting process of the display control process process.

FIG. 57 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a lamp control table in which drum lamp lighting patterns are set.

FIG. 58 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a drum ramp process.

FIG. 59 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a test signal output circuit in a display control board.

FIG. 60 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an I / O expander.

FIG. 61 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a test signal terminal on the display control board.

FIG. 62 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a test signal terminal on the display control board.

FIG. 63 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a test signal terminal on the display control board.

FIG. 64 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a test signal terminal on the display control board.

FIG. 65 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a test signal terminal on the display control board.

FIG. 66 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a test signal terminal on the display control board.

FIG. 67 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a test signal output process of the display control CPU.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pachinko game machine 26 Variable display device 100 Variable display device drive unit 122A to 122C Rotary drum 165 Display control board 176 Motor drive circuit 178 Light drive circuit 200 Drum motor (stepping motor) 220 Test signal output circuit (Error output means) 220A, 220B I / O expander 331 Main board 356 CPU 401 Display control CPU

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A variable display device capable of variably displaying identification information, wherein variable display of identification information is started according to satisfaction of a condition for starting variable display, and a display result of the identification information is predetermined. A game machine that can be controlled to a specific game state advantageous to a player on condition that the game control means controls game progress, and the variable based on a command sent from the game control means. Display control means for performing display control of a display device, and error output means for outputting an error signal when an abnormality is detected by the display control means, wherein the game control means has a variable display mode of identification information. An identifiable variable display command and an identification information designation command capable of identifying a display result of the identification information can be sent to the display control means. In the initial operation performed when the feeding is started, even if the display control means does not receive the variable display command, the error signal is not output if a predetermined condition is satisfied, and the display is not performed after the initial operation. A gaming machine wherein an output of an error signal is performed when the control means does not receive a variable display command. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the error signal is configured to be output to the outside of the gaming machine. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the error output means is a port IC having a plurality of output ports. 4. The game control device according to claim 1, wherein the game control means includes a memory holding means capable of holding a storage content that fluctuates in accordance with the progress of the game even when the power supply to the gaming machine is stopped. Gaming machine. 5. When the power supply to the gaming machine is started and the memory holding means in the game control means does not hold the memory contents before the power supply was stopped, the predetermined condition is satisfied and an error output is generated. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the means does not output an error signal. 6. When the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the memory holding means in the game control means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped, and the display is variably displayed when the power supply is stopped. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein when the variable display is performed on the device, the predetermined condition is satisfied, and the error output unit does not output an error signal. 7. When the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the memory holding means in the game control means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped, and the display is variably displayed when the power supply is stopped. 7. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein when the variable display is not performed by the device, the predetermined condition is not satisfied and the error output means outputs an error signal. 8. The game control means displays an initial symbol on the variable display device when the memory holding means does not hold the memory contents before the power supply stop when the power supply to the gaming machine is started. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein a power-on display command for instructing the game machine to perform the operation is transmitted to the display control means. 9. The gaming machine according to claim 8, wherein when the display control means receives a power-on display command, the predetermined condition is satisfied and the error output means does not output an error signal. 10. The game control means, wherein when the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the memory holding means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped, and the game control means is configured to be variable when the power supply is stopped. 7. The variable display device according to claim 6, wherein when the variable display is performed on the display device, a restoration command indicating the restoration of the variable display device to the display state before the power supply is stopped and an identification information designation command are sent to the display control means. Gaming machine. 11. The gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein when the display control means receives a restoration command, the predetermined condition is satisfied and the error output means does not output an error signal. 12. The game control means, wherein when the power supply to the gaming machine is started, the memory holding means holds the storage contents before the power supply was stopped, and is variable when the power supply is stopped. 8. The gaming machine according to claim 7, wherein when the variable display is not being performed on the display device, the identification information designation command and the confirmation command indicating the end of the variable display are sent to the display control means. 13. The error output means, if the display control means has not received another command before receiving the identification information designation command, outputs the error signal without satisfying the predetermined condition. The gaming machine according to claim 12. 14. When a restoration command is received after the power supply is started, the display control means causes the variable display device to perform variable display until the identification information is displayed, and then receives the confirmation command. The gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein control for temporarily stopping the identification information is performed until the game is performed. 15. The gaming machine according to claim 14, wherein the display control means causes the notifying means to notify that the restoration operation is being performed in response to the variable display of the identification information performed in response to the reception of the restoration command. 16. The game control means has a command storage area in a ring buffer format capable of storing a plurality of commands, reads a command from the command storage area, and sends the command to the display control means. The gaming machine according to claim 15. 17. The display control means has a reception command storage area in a ring buffer format capable of storing a received command, stores the received command in the reception command storage area, and stores the received command in the reception command storage area. 17. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein display control is performed based on a command read from the area.